Assured Beacon-Based Drone Landing

Near Earth Autonomy proposes an innovative solution in response to the U.S. Army’s Beacon for Assured Landing Location solicitation. Our approach emphasizes minimized Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) while ensuring broad compatibility across the full spectrum of military Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), from small drones to large unmanned rotorcraft. This beacon-based system addresses the critical need for precise, autonomous landing capabilities in contested, GPS-denied, and austere environments. The core of our solution is an advanced Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio frequency ranging technology, a domain in which Near Earth Autonomy has demonstrated extensive expertise through its commercial drone applications. Our proprietary beacon design leverages time-of-flight measurements to deliver submeter landing accuracy, even under challenging environmental conditions such as degraded visibility, electromagnetic interference, and dynamic terrains. This robust performance is achieved without reliance on GPS, enhancing operational resilience against jamming and spoofing threats. Our beacon system is engineered for interoperability, seamlessly integrating with diverse military drone platforms regardless of their flight control architectures. This adaptability is crucial for supporting a wide range of mission profiles, from resupply operations in rugged terrains to autonomous landings on moving maritime vessels. Near Earth Autonomy has significant experience in the autonomous landing of drones on ship decks, and we can adapt these beacons for use on moving platforms as well, ensuring reliable performance even in dynamic environments. The lightweight, soldier-portable design ensures ease of deployment, while low power consumption and cost-effective manufacturing make the system suitable for both reusable and attritable applications in high-risk environments. Near Earth Autonomy’s extensive background in beacon technologies for commercial drones, coupled with our deep expertise in radio frequency ranging, underpins the development of a solution that meets the Army’s stringent requirements. Our system employs secure, low-detectability multi-spectral signaling to maintain stealth in contested environments, while its modular architecture allows for rapid adaptation to evolving operational needs. The beacon design will be both secure and feature a low probability of detection by adversaries in the field. As a stretch objective for the program, we will demonstrate a secure beacon with a range of one kilometer guiding two different types of aircraft within the 18-month program. In summary, Near Earth Autonomy’s beacon system offers a scalable, cost-effective, and highly reliable solution for assured autonomous landings across all military UAS platforms. Our approach more than meets the current operational demands; it also sets a foundation for future advancements in autonomous aerial operations within the U.S. Army and beyond.