NavigAIte – AIoT On-Board Localization System for UAVs in GPS-Denied or Unreliable Environments
NavigAIte is a research and development project focused on creating an on-board localization system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), capable of operating in GPS-denied or communication-compromised environments. By leveraging AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) and TinyML (Tiny Machine Learning), the system processes data from IMU, LiDAR, AHRS, and other sensors directly on low-power embedded platforms.
Project Objectives
- Design an AIoT system architecture for GPS-free UAV localization using energy-efficient AI techniques.
- Integrate UAV sensors (IMU, AHRS, altimeter, Pitot tube, LiDAR) with communication systems into a hybrid localization model.
- Generate application-specific datasets using UAV flights in civil security risk scenarios.
- Develop TinyML algorithms and a lightweight framework for accurate, real-time localization.
- Test the full system on a real UAV platform to validate performance.
Research Focus
- Edge AI / TinyML for autonomous aerial systems
- Localization without GPS support
- Integration of AIoT in UAV platforms
- Applications in civil security and emergency response
Consortium and Partners
- Coordinator – National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ana-Maria DRĂGULINESCU - Autonomous Flight Technologies (AFT) – research, testing, and validation in relevant environments
Principal Investigator: Dr. Emilian VLĂSCEANU
Implementation Timeline
Start Date: April 1, 2025
End Date: December 31, 2026
Funding
Funded by UEFISCDI under the PED2024 Program
Total budget: €150,000
Expected Outcomes
- A functional AIoT-based localization system for UAVs without GPS
- TinyML algorithms tailored for real-time aerial localization on embedded devices
- Custom datasets and benchmarks for UAV operations in GPS-limited scenarios
- Documentation and validation results for future adoption and deployment
The NavigAIte project supports UAV operations in emergency, security, and disaster-response missions by delivering robust, GPS-independent navigation solutions through advanced AIoT technologies.