Researchers at South Ural State University have developed a software solution to improve landing precision for aircraft and rockets by more than four times. The system operates independently of global satellite navigation networks like GPS and GLONASS, relying instead on ground-based signal sources.
The technology integrates terrain mapping with flight path data to calculate navigation weights. It prioritizes critical flight stages, specifically focusing on the final descent phase starting from an altitude of approximately 300 meters above the ground.
To implement the system, specialized signal transmitters must be installed around the landing site, either on the ground or on towers. Operators need to upload local terrain data within a 25-kilometer radius and a standard descent trajectory into the software.
The university suggests that this autonomous navigation infrastructure is suitable for remote regions. Beyond aviation and aerospace applications, the developers propose using the algorithm in geodesy to identify optimal locations for constructing new runways.
