Advanced Navigation maps deep mine without GNSS or infrastructure

Advanced Navigation has successfully demonstrated a breakthrough in underground navigation, delivering high-precision positioning without reliance on fixed infrastructure or GNSS, in Europe’s deepest underground mine in Pyhäjärvi, Finland.

The Hybrid Navigation System, combining a Laser Velocity Sensor (LVS) with the Boreas D90 fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) Inertial Navigation System (INS), achieved consistent sub-0.1% navigation error across multiple runs, without relying on any fixed positioning infrastructure, pre-existing maps, or external aiding.

Navigating the vast subterranean network of the Pyhäsalmi Mine poses significant challenges. Located 1.4 km underground with a 63 degree latitude – just two degrees below the Arctic Circle, where traditional systems fail – the mine is completely impervious to GNSS signals. Its repetitive, multi-level tunnel network creates a high risk of visual disorientation, while its metallic ores distort magnetic fields and scatter radio waves.

To maintain and enhance this accuracy, the INS is fused with Advanced Navigation’s LVS. Using infrared lasers, LVS continuously measures the vehicle’s true 3D velocity relative to the ground. This real-time data is critical for correcting the gradual ‘drift’ that occurs in standalone inertial systems, enabling the Hybrid System to maintain precision over extended distances.

This integration is made possible with Advanced Navigation’s AdNav OS Fusion software. Using adaptive algorithms, it dynamically weighs the reliability of each sensor in real time. Together, these technologies form a resilient Hybrid System delivering precise, uninterrupted navigational data in extreme environments, without GNSS or fixed infrastructure.

www.advancednavigation.com