Recently we completed our project NTP 19-04 Underground Navigation and Communication Infrastructure (UNCI). We have managed to demonstrate that our ideas about underground navigation and communication are workable.
Our story started with a shared second place at the Defence Innovation Competition 2018 with the theme "the underground". We achieved a "most innovative contribution", where Defense was very enthusiastic about the concept. At the request of Defense, we started with an NTP application, in order to first demonstrate the principle before Defense would invest further in this.
Navigating and communicating underground is impossible with standard radio and GPS. Our solution to this is to use a mesh network of miniature radio relay transmitters, combined with inertial navigation (INS) via miniaturized motion sensors. This makes it possible to provide radio communications and inertial navigation in satellite denied environments. When thinking of miniature, one should think of the dimensions of several Euro coins stacked on top of each other.
We have now worked out the principle and successfully completed initial tests. Our principle works, and we have proven that our ideas are feasible.
What we developed
The mesh network of miniature relay transmitters not only serves for communication, but also provides reference points for navigation. The error of inertial navigation systems, which increases over time, is thus kept within limits. Repeated measurements increase the accuracy of the reference positions. Pevra has obtained a patent on this mechanism of reference points and the use of repeated measurements.
We have developed the mathematical basis for this principle. and tested, both in the open field and underground.
The functionalities that we can realize include:
- Voice and digital communications via a mesh network through underground passageways.
- Positioning via inertial navigation with drift control
- Keeping track of and circulating the distance traveled by users throughout the network (travel log)
- Automatic refinement of the location of the reference points by repeated measurements.
With the above principles we can deploy a network for communication within minutes while also drastically reducing the drift of inertial navigation due to the static reference points. This has been demonstrated in a laboratory environment, in accordance with TRL level 4.
What we are going to do next
Now that we have shown that this concept works, we are ready for the second step. In the coming months we will make our plan for further developing our product to demonstrate its operation in an operationally relevant environment in accordance with TRL level 5.
For more information, please contact:
Peter van Apeldoorn
mail: p.apeldoorn@pevra.nl
tel: +31 85 21 29 27 9