Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) has launched a new research and development initiative aimed at designing advanced infrastructure to enhance navigation capabilities in urban environments.
ASI has entrusted QASCOM (as parent company) and RINA Consulting (formerly D’Appolonia) with the development of an innovative terrestrial system that supports satellite navigation (GNSS), ensuring accurate localization even when traditional GNSS signals are unavailable or degraded.
The project involves the design and testing of a Metropolitan Beacon System, a terrestrial beacon based on alternative and complementary technologies to GNSS. This system is capable of generating positioning signals similar to those emitted by GNSS satellites and is compatible with transmission over cellular networks. It will provide accurate positioning in challenging contexts such as tactical missions, GNSS-denied environments (due to jamming or spoofing), or urban canyons where environmental obstructions hinder satellite signals.
In parallel, the project will assess interoperability with 5G networks, leveraging their low latency and high data throughput to further enhance the accuracy and reliability of the positioning system. This integration aims to ensure continuous service for mission-critical applications, including intelligent transportation systems and emergency management operations in dense urban areas.
The goal is to deliver a robust and scalable solution that enables resilient positioning and timing services in complex environments, thereby contributing to the enhancement of national critical infrastructure. The infrastructure may also be deployed in emergency scenarios where satellite-based services are not fully available, ensuring the continuity of Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities.
The project also includes contributions from Seletech, focusing on hardware development, and Oversonic, which will support experimentation using humanoid robots.
For more information, please contact: sales@qascom.it.
