The future of navigation for land systems and lightweight air platforms

Advanced Navigation has announced the expansion of its Certus range with the new Mini series. Available in three variants, the Certus Mini series includes a GNSS-aided Certus Mini D and Certus Mini N inertial navigation system (INS), while the Certus Mini A functions as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). Weighing no more than 55g, the series packs an impressive punch in performance and cost-efficiency, defying expectations for its weight and size.

Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, "Manufacturers and system integrators often face trade-offs between performance, size, cost and weight. The Certus Mini series is a testament these attributes do not need to conflict with one another.

"For customers deploying land-based vehicles, this value-driven breakthrough lowers their entry barrier to precise and reliable navigation. It also unlocks new possibilities for lightweight airborne platforms, such as drones, where every gram counts towards flight efficiency and power consumption.

"Designed with flexibility in mind, the series is easily integrated into existing and new system builds with simple plug-and-play connectivity, minimising development time and costs. This adaptability, paired with its performance and size, makes the Mini series a powerful addition to the already versatile Certus range."

The Certus Mini D leads the series, featuring a dual-antenna GNSS heading. This permits it to deliver superior accuracy in heading, position and velocity. With a maximum weight of 55g, it fills a critical gap in the market for a dual-antenna INS in a lightweight and compact size.

By operating on the L1/L5 multi-constellation GNSS, the series provides leading capabilities in interference immunity, position accuracy and multipath resistance in urban environments, such as near tall buildings, tree canopies and canyons.

The series houses the company's breakthrough algorithmic technology. This software-enabled hardware delivers navigation data superior to outputs based on traditional filter methods, offering new performance levels for miniature INS in GNSS-challenged environments.