ANELLO Photonics conducted a real-world evaluation of its ANELLO GROUND INS, featuring a Silicon Photonic Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG™), to assess navigation performance in a fully GPS-denied setting.
The test took place within the multi-level parking structure at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, an environment known for complete signal loss and heavy multipath interference. The trial benchmarked the GNSS INS against a leading industry competitor to measure accuracy, stability, and robustness under extreme signal degradation.
Performance of ANELLO GROUND INS vs. Competitor 1 at Levi’s Stadium Parking Garage, Santa Clara
Real-World GPS-Denied Navigation Assessment
Parking structures represent some of the most demanding real-world environments for inertial navigation, providing no access to GNSS signals, making them ideal for testing dead-reckoning and sensor-fusion performance.
The 750-meter route within Levi’s Stadium simulated the conditions faced by autonomous vehicles, unmanned ground systems, mobile robotics, and defense platforms operating in tunnels, urban canyons, or jammed areas.
System Overview
The ANELLO GROUND INS integrates an optical gyroscope with a high-performance Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and advanced sensor-fusion algorithms to maintain accurate position and heading data during complete GNSS outages. This architecture enables uninterrupted navigation for systems deployed in both civilian and defense domains, including robotics, surveying, and unmanned platforms.
Driven by ANELLO’s SiPhOG™ technology, the system combines optical gyroscope and accelerometer data with optional GNSS and wheel odometry inputs to deliver precise, high-frequency outputs. This ensures reliable performance in environments where satellite navigation signals are degraded or unavailable.
Key Capabilities
- Accurate in severe multipath and GNSS denied
- < 0.5º/hr unaided heading drift for reliable orientation
- 200 Hz -> 100 Hz. IMU is output at 200 Hz, INS is output at 100 Hz.
- On-Board GNSS/INS Sensor Fusion
- Automotive Ethernet, Dual RS-232 Interfaces
- GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS
- IP68 – Waterproof, Resistant to Dust, Salt Spray and Chemicals
- Optimized for autonomous navigation, robotic control, precision agriculture, construction, mapping/surveying, and defense missions
Test Results
During the real-world 750-meter test inside the parking structure, the ANELLO GROUND INS achieved a 3.0-meter cross-track error, maintaining a stable and consistent trajectory throughout. The competing system recorded 11.3 meters, nearly four times higher. This demonstrates the ANELLO system’s ability to sustain accurate dead reckoning and precise navigation in complete GNSS denial.
The Levi’s Stadium test confirmed the ANELLO GROUND INS as a robust and reliable solution for sustained navigation without external signals. Across real-world operational environments, including dense infrastructure, underground facilities, or complex urban terrain, the system delivers:
- Reduced reliance on LiDAR or vision sensors
- Cost efficiency compared to legacy fiber-optic gyroscope systems
Even under total signal blockage, the ANELLO GROUND INS maintained accurate and stable navigation, outperforming a leading competitor. These results reinforce its suitability for defense and autonomous applications requiring resilience, redundancy, and precision.
To read more, visit the ANELLO Photonics website.
