KERKES Project

Rotary-wing and fixed-wing UAVs are seeing increasing use on the battlefield, allowing fast and reliable attacks with the support of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), and in particular, the global positioning system (GPS). It is well known that GPS and RF services can easily be disrupted or spoofed in the operational arena, while there are situations where these services cannot be used uninterruptedly in line with the information received from the field. This can make it difficult for UAVs to fulfill their missions.

STM has concluded the Global Positioning System Independent Autonomous Navigation System Development (KERKES) Project, launched in 2019 under the leadership of the SSB. The acceptance process of the KERKES Project, which allows UAV platforms to operate GPS-denied environments, has been completed. Following the completion of the KERKES Project, developed by STM engineers and incorporating sophisticated computer vision techniques and artificial intelligence algorithms, mini/micro class UAVs are now capable of performing missions both day and night in environments without GPS coverage.

With the KERKES Project, which aims to support rotary-wing (multi-rotor) and fixed-wing UAVs in carrying out missions in environments where there is no GPS coverage, location estimation and the execution of missions can be achieved through navigation based on object recognition and deep learning capabilities. Using this system, the UAV begins its mission with a loaded map, compares the map with the data obtained from the field, and successfully completes its mission without needing to rely on GPS. KERKES will allow UAVs to carry out their missions without being affected by enemy electronic warfare threats such as GPS jammers.

Within the scope (KERKES Project, we aim to allow rotary wing (multi-rotor) and fixed-wing UAVs to carry out missions without the support of GPS.