National Security Institute field-tests specialized navigation software

The Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) is helping plot a course toward safe navigation when traditional GPS fails. 

Researchers in the institute’s Mission Systems Division recently kicked off a series of field-tests aimed at further validating the magnetic field-based geolocation software patented by AstraNav, a company that specializes in providing navigation and positioning solutions by leveraging the Earth's magnetic field. The company’s software-based magnetic-field based geolocation solution (M-GPS), aims to provide devices and vehicles with reliable, accurate navigational data, including in GPS-denied and network-denied environments.  

“When you look at the fields of national security and defense that VTNSI operates in, there are many applications for this technology,” said Gustavo Gargioni, research scientist in the Mission Systems Division. “It’s a major advantage if, even if our GPS signal is lost in the field or jammed by an adversary, we still have equipment that operates and performs under those new circumstances.”

AstraNav and Virginia Tech are testing the software across land, sea, and air systems, including underwater uncrewed vehicles, uncrewed aerial systems, and crewed aircraft as part of an expanding multi-year partnership. The company’s M-GPS software taps into on-board magnetic sensors and requires no special hardware be added to current systems nor radio frequency signals to operate. 

In one recent test, the institute and Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering researchers designed and built a payload system running AstraNav’s software onboard an aircraft while in flight. The system was able to achieve GPS-level accuracy navigational data using Earth’s magnetic field as the source of geolocation data. 

“It’s applicable to many different vehicle applications and sizes,” said Scott Kennedy, research scientist in the Mission Systems Division. “Any type of vehicle that moves and might need navigation, we’ve looked into the possible applications.”

AstraNav was drawn to Virginia Tech by the university’s strong reputation in both engineering and national security.

“We knew Virginia Tech’s reputation for doing high complexity engineering work and VTNSI’s work in the national security and defense space was also very attractive to us,” said Anton Toutov, AstraNav chief executive officer. “AstraNav is a commercial software company with national security applications, so we are able to leverage Virginia Tech’s top tier talent and facilities for commercial systems, including autonomous vehicles and microelectronics, as well as their deep expertise in defense platforms.”

Additional support for the research projects comes from VTC Ventures, an investment group primarily funded by Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic and managed by Middleland Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage life sciences and high growth technology companies.

“Relationships between Virginia Tech and companies like AstraNav are the types of things that we're trying to foster,” said James Ramey, managing director and fund manager for VTC Ventures. “AstraNav has brought research work to Virginia Tech and is fully funding researchers in Blacksburg. And on top of that, if AstraNav ends up being a great outcome for us as investors, that helps the foundation and the ecosystem.”

In the coming months, the institute plans to continue validating M-GPS for crewed and uncrewed vehicle applications, including the resiliency and adaptability of the solution across various aircraft and underwater vehicle types and environments. In addition, the research team will expand its validation to power location intelligence for wearables and in microelectronics, such as augmented reality headsets and smartphones, using the software.