NAVION – Navigation Beyond Limits

Research project

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Start date 01 January 2025

How can autonomous machines operate safely and accurately in places where GPS coverage is unreliable, such as greenhouses, solar parks or tree nurseries? Through NAVION, businesses and researchers are working together to develop an intelligent navigation system that enables autonomous machines to navigate reliably, even in these challenging environments. This will allow repetitive and labour-intensive tasks to be carried out increasingly without human intervention.

Autonomous vehicles often rely on GPS to determine their position. However, in many locations the GPS signal is not reliable enough. This is the case, for example, in greenhouses, beneath solar panels or in areas with dense tree cover. As a result, autonomous machines cannot always operate safely or accurately.

In NAVION, researchers combine different technologies, including cameras, laser scanners and GPS, into a single intelligent navigation system. By bringing these sources of information together, a machine can continuously determine its location and safely navigate its route. The technology is being tested in real-world conditions using, among other things, an autonomous mowing robot and a greenhouse robot. The project brings together businesses and Hanze University of Applied Sciences to ensure that the knowledge developed can be applied directly in practice.

NAVION will deliver:

A reliable navigation system that intelligently combines data from multiple sensors.
Two working prototypes: an autonomous mowing robot and a robot for greenhouse horticulture.
New software that enables autonomous machines to navigate more accurately and safely.
Practical knowledge on the safe deployment of autonomous machines in different working environments.
New insights into secure data exchange and wireless communication for autonomous systems.

By making autonomous machines more reliable, businesses will be able to automate tasks for which it is becoming increasingly difficult to find staff. This will help address labour shortages while enabling organisations to work more efficiently and sustainably. The technology developed within the project can be applied in sectors including grounds maintenance, greenhouse horticulture, agriculture, logistics and the management of solar parks.

The project also strengthens collaboration between businesses and knowledge institutions in the Northern Netherlands and contributes to the development of new knowledge and talent in robotics, artificial intelligence and smart sensor technology.

The knowledge developed within NAVION will not only be used by the project partners but will also be shared with businesses, students and researchers. The partners will work together to further develop and apply the technology, enabling it to be incorporated into new products and services.

The project also aims to make the navigation software available to other companies developing autonomous machines. In this way, NAVION will contribute to innovation within the manufacturing industry in the Northern Netherlands while creating opportunities for new economic activity and employment.