A French start-up has amazed the world of technology with a new invention that could revolutionize navigation. Sodern, a subsidiary of ArianeGroup, has developed Astradia, a top-notch navigation system. Astradia uses star tracking, unlike regular GPS-based systems, so it can provide accurate and uninterrupted navigation even when there are no satellite signals.
Since Astradia is based on aerospace knowledge, it provides a strong answer to the risks of jamming, spoofing, and outages in GPS, Galileo, and similar satellite navigation systems. With the help of an inertial navigation system, Astradia corrects any drift in the sensor data, providing accuracy within a few arc seconds, which is the same as one-meter accuracy over 70 kilometers.
The unit is very light, weighing less than three pounds, and has dimensions of 7 x 7.3 x 8.1 inches, so it can be easily fitted into drones, aircraft, and military systems. Because it does not send out any signals, it can operate secretly in areas where there is conflict. Besides, it can be used anywhere in the world, even in remote areas and over oceans, without the need for frequent map updates.
Astradia will be introduced at the Paris Air Show in June, and each unit will cost $275,000 before tax. Even though the price is high, it shows how much people need secure and reliable navigation in different sectors. Because it requires less maintenance and does not depend on satellites, it becomes even more attractive.
However, there are still some problems to address. Astradia works best when the sky is clear, but it can still be accurate with the help of inertial systems when the sky is not clear. The future of drones depends on whether they can be used in more areas than just military and aviation.
Astradia could lead to a new approach in navigation, making us less dependent on satellites and more on precise space technology. As people start using the stars for navigation, the world is eager to see how successful this new approach will be.
