Celestial Navigation: A State-of-the-Art Review Towards a Light Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (LAUV) Conceptual...

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• Navigation and Positioning
• Oceanography

Background:

• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are ineffective underwater due to signal limitations.
• Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) rely on error-prone dead-reckoning systems.
• GNSS is increasingly vulnerable to jamming and spoofing, necessitating alternative navigation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a state-of-the-art review of automated Celestial Navigation (CN) technologies for AUVs.
• To assess the suitability of CN systems, specifically Solar Tracking Sensors (STSs), for AUV integration.
• To propose a conceptual CN system for AUVs and outline an integration methodology.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of automated CN technologies (2020 onwards).
• SWOT analysis of Solar Tracking Sensors (STSs), star trackers, and horizon detection for AUVs.
• Conceptual design and integration methodology for a solar-based CN system on an AUV platform.

Main Results:

• Solar-based CN is identified as a viable periodic absolute position corrector for AUVs.
• A conceptual CN system using an STS was developed for the Light Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.
• The proposed system offers navigation independent of vulnerable satellite infrastructure.

Conclusions:

• Automated Celestial Navigation presents a robust alternative for AUV navigation, particularly in contested environments.
• Solar-based CN can enhance AUV navigation resilience by providing a reliable, non-satellite-dependent positioning solution.
• Further hydrodynamic and structural verification is required for the conceptual CN system.