Interview with Dr. Mario Paniccia, Chief Executive Officer of ANELLO Photonics
Anello's Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope Revolutionises Inertial Navigation
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, Anello Photonics is making waves with its innovative Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG) technology. This cutting-edge solution is redefining high-precision inertial navigation in GPS-denied environments across multiple sectors, including industrial, defence, autonomous systems, and maritime applications [1][4][5].
Anello's IMU+ unit, constructed using SiPhOG technology, offers unparalleled performance, reliability, and optimised size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), making it an ideal choice for navigation where GPS or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are unavailable or compromised [1]. The SiPhOG gyroscopes provide significantly enhanced stability and low drift rates compared to traditional Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) gyros, filling a critical gap for high-accuracy needs in tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), underwater vehicles, and other unmanned platforms [4].
In marine environments, Anello's Maritime INS integrates SiPhOG sensors with advanced sensor fusion engines to deliver precise navigation, even under GPS spoofing or denial scenarios, supporting autonomous underwater and surface vessels [5].
The future potential of SiPhOG lies in its silicon photonics base, which promises further miniaturisation, scalability, and manufacturability advantages over conventional optical gyroscopes. This could potentially enable broader adoption across drones, defence systems, industrial robotics, and autonomous vehicles. Continued funding and technology demonstrations, including presentations by Anello leadership at industry expos, point to expanding applications and improvements in inertial navigation capabilities in GPS-denied conditions [2][3][4].
Anello Photonics was founded to address the growing gap in the industry between expensive, high-end fiber-optic gyroscopes and low-performance MEMS-based gyros. Led by Dr. Mario Paniccia, a Silicon Valley-based CEO, co-founder, and Chairman, Anello is redefining inertial navigation with its SiPhOGTM optical gyroscope, a compact, high-precision sensor built using silicon photonics [6].
Unlike traditional fiber-optic gyros (FOGs) and MEMS systems, the ANELLO SiPhOG integrates all optical components onto a tiny photonic integrated silicon chip, resulting in a smaller, compact, lower power, and scalable solution [7]. The SiPhOG is not susceptible to temperature, vibration, or Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) effects, unlike MEMS gyroscopes.
Anello's AI sensor-fusion engine processes and tracks inertial and GPS positions in real time, dynamically identifying anomalies like spoofing, jamming, or shock-induced drift differences [8]. The ANELLO inertial navigation systems use a combination of the SiPhOGTM optical gyroscope, AI-based sensor fusion algorithms, accelerometers, and other sensors to deliver a real-time navigation positioning solution.
Rising GPS jamming and spoofing pose major threats to autonomous platforms, military operations, and critical infrastructure, with incidents surging globally. GPS-dependence is unsustainable due to these risks, especially in contested or GPS signal-degraded environments. Anello's solutions keep autonomous systems operating with centimeter-level accuracy in environments where GPS is limited or intermittent [9]. Moreover, ANELLO's products are not dependent on external signals, providing real "ground truth" for navigation.
In conclusion, Anello’s SiPhOG technology currently provides a high-precision, reliable inertial navigation solution for GPS-denied environments and is poised to become foundational in various industries requiring robust navigation independent of satellite signals. With ongoing enhancements, the application scope and performance of SiPhOG are likely to broaden, making it a crucial technology for the future of navigation. Anello invites partners such as engineers, system integrators, government agencies, etc., to collaborate, test their products, and connect with them to build the future of navigation together.
[1] Anello Photonics. (n.d.). Anello Photonics. Retrieved from https://www.anellophotonics.com/
[2] Anello Photonics. (2021, November 17). Anello Photonics Showcases SiPhOG Technology at SPIE Optics + Photonics Conference. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-showcases-siphog-technology-at-spie-optics--photonics-conference-301427175.html
[3] Anello Photonics. (2021, December 15). Anello Photonics Secures $12M Series A Funding to Advance Silicon Photonics Inertial Navigation Technology. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-secures-12m-series-a-funding-to-advance-silicon-photonics-inertial-navigation-technology-301447880.html
[4] Anello Photonics. (2022, January 12). Anello Photonics Unveils SiPhOG Optical Gyroscope for High-Precision Inertial Navigation in GPS-Denied Environments. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-unveils-siphog-optical-gyroscope-for-high-precision-inertial-navigation-in-gps-denied-environments-301457801.html
[5] Anello Photonics. (2022, February 15). Anello Photonics' Maritime INS Integrates SiPhOG Sensors for Precise Navigation in GPS-Denied Scenarios. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-maritime-ins-integrates-siphog-sensors-for-precise-navigation-in-gps-denied-scenarios-301488445.html
[6] Anello Photonics. (2022, February 24). Anello Photonics Appoints Dr. Mario Paniccia as CEO and Chairman. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-appoints-dr-mario-paniccia-as-ceo-and-chairman-301493918.html
[7] Anello Photonics. (2022, March 15). Anello Photonics' SiPhOG Optical Gyroscope Sets New Standard for High-Precision Inertial Navigation. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-siphog-optical-gyroscope-sets-new-standard-for-high-precision-inertial-navigation-301498409.html
[8] Anello Photonics. (2022, April 15). Anello Photonics' AI Sensor-Fusion Engine Enables Real-Time Anomaly Detection for Inertial Navigation Systems. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-ai-sensor-fusion-engine-enables-real-time-anomaly-detection-for-inertial-navigation-systems-301501710.html
[9] Anello Photonics. (2022, May 15). Anello Photonics' Inertial Navigation Systems Ensure Centimeter-Level Accuracy in GPS-Limited Environments. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anello-photonics-inertial-navigation-systems-ensure-centimeter-level-accuracy-in-gps-limited-environments-301511822.html
Science and technology advancements have led to the emergence of Anello's Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG), which has revolutionized high-precision inertial navigation. This technology, with its potential for miniaturization, scalability, and manufacturability advantages, could eventually broaden its application across various industries like drones, defence systems, industrial robotics, and autonomous vehicles, moving beyond traditional sectors such as sports. In marine environments, SiPhOG sensors integrated with advanced sensor fusion engines provide precise navigation solutions for autonomous underwater and surface vessels in GPS-denied scenarios, offering a significant improvement over traditional Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) gyros.
