UAV Navigation

UAV Navigation designs guidance, navigation and control systems for unmanned aircraft. It has done this since 2004. The company is private and independent, and it describes itself as 100% Spanish capital. It is part of Grupo Oesia, a Spanish group with more than 50 years of work in security, defense and aerospace technology. Its flight control systems are used by a range of Tier 1 aerospace makers.

VECTOR autopilots

The VECTOR family has three models. They control fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and target drones.

• VECTOR-300: an autopilot for mass production.
• VECTOR-400: built only for unmanned aerial targets.
• VECTOR-600: the most advanced model.

The company develops its own attitude and heading reference systems and flight control algorithms. It also fuses data from several sensors in house. The autopilots also work with a Mission Control Computer.

Navigation without GNSS

The onboard software is built to keep navigating by dead reckoning when GNSS is lost, jammed or spoofed, even if the radio link drops. The VNS01 visual navigation system has added terrain referenced navigation and satellite map matching. UAV Navigation is also working with the European Space Agency on using low Earth orbit signals for resilient navigation.

Launch, recovery and teamwork

The company says it can fill large orders through mass production at its centers of excellence in Europe. The flight control system handles launch from a mothership, a catapult or rockets, and it can withstand up to 25 G. It includes automatic and manual parachute recovery. It can fly swarms and work with crewed aircraft in manned and unmanned teams. Software version 9.2 also supports control of uncrewed surface vessels with UAVs.

Ground control

Visionair is the standard ground control software. Operators use it to set up, plan and fly missions.

Customers and approvals

Named partners include Primoco UAV, QinetiQ Air Affairs in Australia, Ekolot Aerospace and Defense and Flint Hills Solutions. The company supports customers who seek certification by supplying documents and test evidence.