Gnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologies

Abstract Navigation without Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) poses a significant challenge in aerospace engineering, particularly in the environments where satellite signals are obstructed or unavailable. This paper offers an in-depth review of various methods, sensors, and algorithms for...

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Main Authors: Imen Jarraya, Abdulrahman Al-Batati, Muhammad Bilal Kadri, Mohamed Abdelkader, Adel Ammar, Wadii Boulila, Anis Koubaa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-04-01
Series:Satellite Navigation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43020-025-00162-z
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author Imen Jarraya
Abdulrahman Al-Batati
Muhammad Bilal Kadri
Mohamed Abdelkader
Adel Ammar
Wadii Boulila
Anis Koubaa
author_facet Imen Jarraya
Abdulrahman Al-Batati
Muhammad Bilal Kadri
Mohamed Abdelkader
Adel Ammar
Wadii Boulila
Anis Koubaa
author_sort Imen Jarraya
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Navigation without Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) poses a significant challenge in aerospace engineering, particularly in the environments where satellite signals are obstructed or unavailable. This paper offers an in-depth review of various methods, sensors, and algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) localization in outdoor environments where GNSS signals are unavailable or denied. A key contribution of this study is the establishment of a critical classification system that divides GNSS-denied navigation techniques into two primary categories: absolute and relative localization. This classification enhances the understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different strategies in various operational contexts. Vision-based localization is identified as the most effective approach in GNSS-denied environments. Nonetheless, it’s clear that no single-sensor-based localization algorithm can fulfill all the needs of a comprehensive navigation system in outdoor environments. Therefore, it’s vital to implement a hybrid strategy that merges various algorithms and sensors for effective outcomes. This detailed analysis emphasizes the challenges and possible solutions for achieving reliable and effective outdoor UAV localization in environments where GNSS is unreliable or unavailable. This multi-faceted analysis, highlights the complexities and potential pathways for achieving efficient and dependable outdoor UAV localization in GNSS-denied environments.
format Article
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issn 2662-9291
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language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Satellite Navigation
spelling doaj-art-d5e9204fcbf64c2dbc9f54f5e92908952025-08-20T03:06:53ZengSpringerOpenSatellite Navigation2662-92912662-13632025-04-016113310.1186/s43020-025-00162-zGnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologiesImen Jarraya0Abdulrahman Al-Batati1Muhammad Bilal Kadri2Mohamed Abdelkader3Adel Ammar4Wadii Boulila5Anis Koubaa6College of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan UniversityCollege of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan UniversityCollege of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan UniversityCollege of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan UniversityCollege of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan UniversityCollege of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan UniversityCollege of Computer and Information Sciences, Prince Sultan UniversityAbstract Navigation without Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) poses a significant challenge in aerospace engineering, particularly in the environments where satellite signals are obstructed or unavailable. This paper offers an in-depth review of various methods, sensors, and algorithms for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) localization in outdoor environments where GNSS signals are unavailable or denied. A key contribution of this study is the establishment of a critical classification system that divides GNSS-denied navigation techniques into two primary categories: absolute and relative localization. This classification enhances the understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different strategies in various operational contexts. Vision-based localization is identified as the most effective approach in GNSS-denied environments. Nonetheless, it’s clear that no single-sensor-based localization algorithm can fulfill all the needs of a comprehensive navigation system in outdoor environments. Therefore, it’s vital to implement a hybrid strategy that merges various algorithms and sensors for effective outcomes. This detailed analysis emphasizes the challenges and possible solutions for achieving reliable and effective outdoor UAV localization in environments where GNSS is unreliable or unavailable. This multi-faceted analysis, highlights the complexities and potential pathways for achieving efficient and dependable outdoor UAV localization in GNSS-denied environments.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43020-025-00162-zUAV localizationGNSS-denied navigationAbsolute localizationRelative localizationVisual sensorsNon-visual sensors
spellingShingle Imen Jarraya
Abdulrahman Al-Batati
Muhammad Bilal Kadri
Mohamed Abdelkader
Adel Ammar
Wadii Boulila
Anis Koubaa
Gnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologies
Satellite Navigation
UAV localization
GNSS-denied navigation
Absolute localization
Relative localization
Visual sensors
Non-visual sensors
title Gnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologies
title_full Gnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologies
title_fullStr Gnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologies
title_full_unstemmed Gnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologies
title_short Gnss-denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation: analyzing computational complexity, sensor fusion, and localization methodologies
title_sort gnss denied unmanned aerial vehicle navigation analyzing computational complexity sensor fusion and localization methodologies
topic UAV localization
GNSS-denied navigation
Absolute localization
Relative localization
Visual sensors
Non-visual sensors
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43020-025-00162-z
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