Autonomous Navigation in an Uncertain World
The adoption of autonomous vehicles, robots, and other remote systems can’t rely on mapping technologies like GPS under every circumstance, as anyone who has ever driven through a tunnel or lost their satellite signal could tell you. And this isn’t limited to the accidental loss of signal. In 2024, GPS spoofing incidents increased significantly—an alarming trend that highlights the growing vulnerability of satellite navigation systems in modern conflict zones.
As navigation becomes increasingly vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, or complete denial, military forces operating in contested environments face significant challenges, not just in navigation, but in coordination, safety, and mission success. The ability to maneuver without GPS has become a critical operational requirement. Autonomous systems must be equipped with inertial navigation systems capable of executing maneuvers with precision and reliability.
On this front, ANELLO Photonics developed an innovative Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG) to serve autonomous vehicles. It leverages silicon photonics, accelerometers, and gyroscopes for accurate and reliable positioning and navigation.
The company’s solutions enable autonomous systems to track changes in velocity and orientation. This allows them to maneuver independently of external signals and ensures reliable navigation even in GPS-denied environments.
In this podcast, we talk to Dr. Mario Paniccia, CEO of ANELLO Photonics, about how the company’s solutions address navigation today.
SHOW NOTES
00:42 – Importance of Navigation
09:08 – Foreign Product Integration
12:15 – SiPhOG Applications
>>Check out these TechXchanges for more podcasts and similar articles and videos
About the Author
Alix Paultre
Editor-at-Large, Electronic Design
An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the US military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications in the embedded electronic engineering space. Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Also check out his YouTube watch-collecting channel, Talking Timepieces.
Mario Paniccia
CEO, ANELLO Photonics
Dr. Mario Paniccia, Chief Executive Officer of ANELLO Photonics, is an experienced executive with over 20 years in the photonics industry. Prior to ANELLO, Dr. Paniccia was at Intel where he achieved the level of Intel Fellow, CTO & GM of the Silicon Photonics Group. He is considered a world expert in silicon photonics and the technology he pioneered is used in data centers around the world.