ANELLO Photonics announced that its Maritime Inertial Navigation System (INS) has been selected for integration into BlackSea Technologies’ Chaser autonomous surface vessel (USV), targeting resilient navigation in GPS-denied and contested maritime environments. The deployment follows successful demonstrations of the system on the GARC platform and marks a production design win for ANELLO’s silicon photonics-based sensing technology.
The collaboration integrates ANELLO’s Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG™) into BlackSea’s modular Chaser platform to deliver continuous positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) without reliance on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). This approach addresses increasing concerns around GNSS vulnerability, including jamming and spoofing, which can disrupt both defense and commercial maritime operations. The INS provides high-precision heading and positioning based solely on inertial measurements, supporting mission continuity in degraded or denied signal environments.
BlackSea’s Chaser platform targets a range of autonomous maritime missions, including surveillance, security, and operations in contested regions. The addition of ANELLO’s INS enhances navigation resilience and aligns with broader efforts to modernize uncrewed maritime fleets with assured autonomy. The companies position the combined solution as a step toward more robust navigation architectures for autonomous systems operating in complex environments.
- ANELLO Maritime INS selected for BlackSea Technologies’ Chaser USV platform
- Built on ANELLO’s SiPhOG™ silicon photonics optical gyroscope technology
- Enables navigation independent of GNSS in jammed or spoofed environments
- Targets defense and commercial autonomous maritime operations
- Designed for modular integration into uncrewed surface vessels
- Demonstrated previously on the GARC platform prior to selection
“Reliable navigation is fundamental to autonomy, safety, and mission assurance,” said Dr. Mario Paniccia, Co-Founder and CEO of ANELLO Photonics. “With the ANELLO Maritime INS now integrated into the Chaser platform, we are delivering proven, high-performance inertial navigation that maintains precise positioning and heading even in GPS-denied environments.”
🌐 Analysis: The selection highlights growing demand for alternative PNT architectures as GNSS vulnerabilities gain attention across defense and critical infrastructure sectors. Silicon photonics-based inertial sensing, as developed by ANELLO, offers a path to scalable, chip-level navigation systems that align with broader industry trends toward integrated photonics and autonomy platforms, including developments in aerospace, automotive, and robotics.
| Profile: ANELLO Photonics | |
|---|---|
| Company Overview | Silicon Valley-based developer of silicon photonics-based inertial navigation systems, known for its Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG™), enabling navigation-grade performance in compact, low-power form factors. |
| Founded | 2018 (verified) |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, California, USA |
| Mission | Deliver “assured positioning” for autonomous systems operating in GPS-denied, jammed, or spoofed environments across land, air, and maritime domains. |
| Founder & CEO | Dr. Mario Paniccia – former Intel Fellow and GM of Intel’s Silicon Photonics Solutions Group; widely recognized for early commercialization of silicon photonics. |
| Co-Founder & CTO | Mike Horton – former CEO of Crossbow Technology (acquired by Moog) and former CTO of ACEINNA; specialist in inertial navigation and MEMS sensors. |
| Other Key Executive | Gerhard Boiciuc – VP Business Development (previously HERE Technologies). |
| Core Technology | SiPhOG™ (Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope) integrates optical sensing onto a semiconductor chip using ultra-low-loss waveguides, targeting performance comparable to fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs) with reduced size, weight, power, and cost. |
| Software & Algorithms | AI-based sensor fusion engine combining optical gyros with MEMS accelerometers for dead-reckoning navigation when GNSS signals are unavailable. |
| IP Portfolio | 45+ issued patents and 30+ pending (aligned with company disclosures; exact counts vary slightly by source and timing). |
| Key Products | X-3 optical gyroscope (three-axis), Maritime INS (USVs), Aerial INS (UAVs), and evaluation kits (EVKs) for developers. |
| Key Partnerships | BlackSea Technologies (USV navigation, 2026); Q-CTRL (quantum-assisted navigation research, 2026). |
| Government Programs | U.S. Army funding (2026) supporting development of navigation-grade IMUs aligned with CMOSS modular open standards. |
| Commercial Markets | Defense, autonomous vehicles (trucking), agriculture, construction, and industrial robotics. |
| Funding | Approximately $25M–$30M in venture funding (range reflects publicly disclosed data) plus U.S. government contracts and grants. |
| Lead / Strategic Investors | Lockheed Martin Ventures (strategic), Catapult Ventures, One Madison Group. |
| Additional Investors | In-Q-Tel (IQT), Build Collective (Tony Fadell), HCVC, JS Capital, Purdue Strategic Ventures, Trousdale Ventures, and other institutional backers. |
| Strategic Positioning | Positioned at the intersection of silicon photonics and inertial navigation, targeting scalable, chip-based alternatives to traditional high-cost navigation sensors for both defense and commercial autonomy markets. |
