With dual-use technologies increasingly impacting economies of scale around the world, ADASI, a leading UAV system manufacturer, announced the adoption of two advanced autonomous flight technologies by Abu Dhabi-based VentureOne: Perceptra, a new cutting-edge GPS-free navigation technology, and Saluki, a high-safety flight control technology designed for autonomous systems.

These technologies, both developed by the Technology Innovation Institute, are designed to ensure safe and resilient operations in the most challenging environments. They have been optimized for UAV manufacturers, offering greater resilience, precision and safety for autonomous air operations. The agreement between VentureOne, ADASI and TII was formalized at IDEX 2025, the largest defense trade show in the Middle East, where Saluki and Perceptra were unveiled.

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has long been a mainstay of navigation, supporting applications ranging from everyday smartphone use to essential military and defense operations. However, this widespread use of GPS technology has exposed vulnerabilities that can be exploited through techniques such as jamming and spoofing. Jamming occurs when signals on the same frequency overload GPS receivers, preventing accurate location tracking, while spoofing involves transmitting counterfeit signals to fool receivers into calculating incorrect locations or times. These vulnerabilities pose significant risks across industries that rely on precise navigation, such as autonomous drones, commercial aviation, and military aircraft.

In the defense and security sector, compromised GPS signals can impact mission success and personnel safety, while in the aviation sector, navigation errors can cause flight path deviations and operational disruptions, which have prompted the aviation industry and international regulators, such as IATA and the European regulator EASA, to seek urgent solutions to GPS interference, as noted by a Reuters report in 2024.

For autonomous systems such as drones and self-driving vehicles, the inability to maintain precise positioning can create safety risks, especially in dynamic or high-risk environments ranging from aviation to defense. As the use of systems that rely on GPS signals continues to grow, the need for alternative and resilient navigation solutions has become increasingly pressing. Perceptra and Saluki address many of today’s many challenges with advanced vision-based navigation, and deliver reliable and resilient performance.

Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said: “Perceptra, with its GPS-free capabilities, and Saluki, with its sophisticated Zero Trust architecture, represent a dramatic improvement in autonomous navigation, with the potential to transform multiple industries. From enabling safe travel for commercial flights, to search and rescue missions with precise navigation, to enabling efficient urban logistics with drones for deliveries in densely populated cities, these technologies offer broad real-world applications. Their adaptability also makes them valuable in the defense sector, ensuring safe and flexible operations even in the most challenging environments. This collaboration reflects our commitment to developing advanced, dual-use technologies that address both civil and defense needs, positioning the UAE as a leader in next-generation autonomous systems.”

Perceptra is a vision-based system that provides reliable navigation without GPS, enabling airborne platforms to operate in GNSS-free environments. The system features visual relocking, low navigation errors, and easy integration across intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare platforms.

Saluki is a secure, high-performance flight controller and mission computer with Zero Trust architecture. With PX4 compatibility, Gen AI capabilities, and 300 TOPS processing power, it supports multi-vehicle management for mission-critical defense applications.

“At ADASI, we integrate only the most advanced and field-tested technologies to ensure our UAVs operate with unmatched precision, flexibility and safety, even in the most challenging environments,” said Juma Al Kaabi, CEO of ADASI. “Perceptra and Saluki provide exactly what next-generation UAVs need: safe, GPS-independent navigation and AI-based mission control.”

“VentureOne is committed to ensuring that cutting-edge research becomes reality to positively impact and transform industries,” said Reda Nidhakou, interim CEO of VentureOne. “Saluki and Perceptra are just two of many upcoming innovations that will help ensure more resilient and safe drone operations across multiple industries, starting with defense. We are working on a more comprehensive portfolio of autonomy and air safety that will play a central role in future drone operations.”

Last week, TII announced its collaboration with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to support regulatory efforts by developing advanced methodologies for air corridor design. These methodologies aim to optimize flight paths and reduce the risk of aircraft accidents in complex urban airspace, ensuring safe and efficient navigation for both piloted and autonomous drone taxis. These efforts, together with Perceptra and Saluki, reinforce Abu Dhabi’s vision to be a leader in next-generation navigation and AI-powered autonomy.

VentureOne and TII are part of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), which oversees Abu Dhabi’s R&D ecosystem to foster the development of transformative technologies with global impact. ADASI is part of EDGE Group, a multinational advanced technology and defense company.

The original text of this announcement, written in the source language, is the official version that is authoritative. Translations are offered solely for the convenience of the reader and must refer to the original language text, which is the only legally valid one.

Contacts:

Amy Robertson
+971 504788319

Source: businesswire.com

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