Agilica developing complementary PNT system for drone landings

Agilica BV has completed a feasibility study to develop a complementary PNT (positioning, navigation, timing) system that would enable precision drone navigation and landing in environments where GNSS signals are degraded or unavailable.

Funded by the European Space Agency, the study validates the technical and commercial viability of the AGL system. The system integrates GNSS receivers into the infrastructure for seamless transition to and from GNSS in high-impact applications, including drone landings on moving vessels, operations in indoor facilities, and autonomous deliveries in complex urban or offshore environments.

“Landing a drone on a moving ship in dynamic conditions is one of the toughest challenges in drone autonomy,” said Bart Scheers, Agilica’s COO. “Our AGL system is built to solve this — not by replacing GNSS, but by augmenting it. This feasibility study confirms that our patented UWB approach can extend PNT services, with sub-20 cm precision in GNSS-denied zones.”

The AGL system is based on time-of-flight ultra-wideband technology and functions like a dedicated terrestrial GNSS network to deliver centimeter-level accuracy and resilience in GNSS-compromised environments where vision-based systems and QR codes fall short, according to the company.

The study represents a critical step on the commercialization roadmap of Agilica’s core product — the AGL system — by adding built-in compatibility with GNSS and Galileo High Accuracy Service to its ultra-wideband positioning solution for drones in the maritime, logistics, and urban air mobility sectors.