Russia Develops Navigation System Far More Accurate Than GPS
The Ariadna system has successfully completed testing and is set to be deployed on agricultural drones, combine harvesters, and other autonomous machinery.
Russian scientists have developed an innovative navigation system that delivers accuracy many times higher than GPS, according to the National Technology Initiative Project Support Fund. Called Ariadna, the system provides ultra-precise, satellite-free positioning and navigation.
The technology is based on transmitting signals from ground-based stations—radio beacons—that define coordinates for receivers installed on autonomous vehicles.
Prospects for Autonomous Vehicles
Positioning accuracy reaches 15–20 centimeters, roughly eight times more precise than GPS. The technology is also protected against spoofing and other types of interference. The development opens up new possibilities for autonomous navigation, including drones, self-driving combine harvesters and tractors, and aerial cargo delivery. With Ariadna’s beacons, online maps and other navigation services are expected to operate without disruption.
The solution is designed for any sector planning to deploy autonomous transport, and all components of the technology are domestically produced. In 2026, the system is scheduled to be tested at a large industrial facility, while developers continue the process of formally registering the invention.
