In 2026, Russia will test a new Mesh network for creating autonomous navigation for unmanned aerial vehicles in "dead" zones. This was reported by the press service of the NTI Foundation.
The project received support in the amount of 43.8 million rubles following the competitive selection of the BAS national project. The funding will make it possible to complete testing of the network prototype as early as 2026.
By the end of the year, field tests are planned with the deployment of a network of four base stations and two UAVs.
The project was developed by engineers from Kazan. The system is designed for precise positioning and control of unmanned aerial vehicles in conditions where signals from the GLONASS / GPS satellite systems are absent or unstable.
The solution is an adaptive wireless Mesh network of ground base stations and onboard modules operating in different bands.
The network nodes form a distributed communications and navigation infrastructure in which each element can relay data further through the network, ensuring stable operation without relying on satellite navigation.
The system's positioning accuracy is up to 10 m. Communication range is up to 10-15 km in open terrain.
Read more materials on the topic:
- At MAI, drones will be taught to understand their "sensations": a system of autonomous UAV navigation is being created at the university
- The BAS national project: how Russia created its own drone market
- To speed up drone development: a virtual testing ground for testing UAV twins has been created in Moscow
