Agilica advances backup navigation system for drone landings in weak-GNSS environments
Agilica has completed a feasibility study for a complementary PNT system designed to let drones navigate precisely and land safely where GNSS signals are degraded or unavailable.
The study, funded by the European Space Agency, validated both the technical case and the commercial potential of the company’s AGL system. The platform combines ground infrastructure with GNSS receivers to support a smooth transition into and out of satellite-based navigation for demanding missions such as landings on moving vessels, indoor operations, and autonomous deliveries in dense urban or offshore settings.
Agilica said the system uses time-of-flight ultra-wideband technology and operates like a dedicated terrestrial GNSS network in areas where satellite coverage is compromised. The company said its patented approach can extend positioning, navigation and timing services with sub-20-centimeter precision in GNSS-denied zones, offering a more resilient option where vision-based systems and QR-code markers may struggle.
The feasibility study marks a key step in Agilica’s commercialization plan for AGL, its core drone positioning product. By adding built-in compatibility with GNSS and the Galileo High Accuracy Service to its ultra-wideband solution, the company is targeting maritime, logistics and urban air mobility markets that need dependable precision during the most difficult phase of flight: landing without reliable satellite signals.