GPS denial could leave autonomous platforms without a reliable navigation signal, and ZenaTech’s ZenaDrone is advancing quantum navigation technology built specifically for such conditions.
The company is testing the system at its manufacturing facilities in Sharjah, UAE, to validate its navigation accuracy and reliability under real-world flight environments.
Testing begins with the IQ Nano indoor drone in GPS-denied environments before moving to field trials with the ZenaDrone 1000 heavy-lift cargo unmanned aircraft and other platforms.
Once validated, the system is expected to be integrated into selected ZenaDrone defense and commercial platforms for missions including surveillance, infrastructure inspection, and defense operations.
The company describes the system as a self-contained motion-sensing technology that uses principles derived from quantum physics.
“As the ZenaDrone 1000 is fielded … operators need confidence that a platform can maintain position, navigation, and timing (PNT), even if one system is jammed, spoofed, or otherwise fails in a contested environment,” said Shaun Passley, chief executive officer of ZenaTech.
“Advancing our quantum navigation system into testing is a key milestone toward delivering that redundancy and mission assurance to future defense customers.”
The Heavy-Lift Testbed
The ZenaDrone 1000 is an AI-enabled vertical takeoff and landing heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicle designed with a modular architecture for rapid reconfiguration.
It incorporates sunshine and multispectral sensors, a telemetry antenna, and a 360-degree light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system.
Built with a carbon-fiber composite frame, body, and mounting plates, it uses eight rotors for stability and maneuverability.
The drone uses rechargeable or replaceable batteries to extend flight duration and support longer missions.
Beyond cargo and mission-critical payload delivery, ZenaDrone 1000 can perform real-time surveillance, reconnaissance, and secure data collection.
