Unlocking NavIC’s potential: The power of AI in India’s navigation system

Imagine a scenario where a soldier on the border loses signal mid-operation due to the US shutting off access to GPS. A delivery drone veers off course in the Himalayas. A cyclone hits coastal Odisha, and rescue workers can't coordinate because their navigation system is down. This isn’t a fictional scenario; in today’s tense geopolitical climate, it’s a real possibility.

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That’s why India is building its own navigation system: NavIC, short for Navigation with Indian Constellation. NavIC is not just about finding the nearest restaurant on your phone; it’s about national security, independence, and creating high-tech tools for the future.

GPS is handy but not always reliable. We use it daily for ordering food, checking maps, and making digital payments. However, GPS is a system run and controlled by the US military. If relations sour, they can choose to reduce or cut access. India faced this challenge during the 1999 Kargil War, struggling to obtain accurate location data for military planning.

India isn’t alone in realising the risks. Russia has built its own system called GLONASS, the European Union has Galileo, and China has developed BeiDou, which now powers everything from taxis to farming equipment across many countries. China has even tied it into its trade and defense strategies.

India’s answer is NavIC — a space-based navigation system designed for Indian needs. NavIC started with seven satellites orbiting the Earth in a way that keeps them focused on India and the surrounding region. This means it can provide very accurate location information — often better than GPS in our part of the world.

The satellites come with a very important feature: atomic clocks. These clocks are super-accurate, losing less than a second in millions of years. Navigation systems depend on precise timing, and even a microsecond of delay can lead to large errors in location.

India’s latest satellites use a type of atomic clock called a Rubidium clock, made in India. This is a big step forward in building truly home-grown technology. The satellites now broadcast signals on a common radio channel known as the L1 band, which most smartphones and GPS-enabled devices already listen to.

NavIC isn’t just a science project; it’s already making a difference. India’s ocean monitoring agency, INCOIS, uses NavIC to send out early warnings about cyclones and tsunamis. These alerts go directly to remote fishing villages, even where there’s no internet or mobile network.

During Cyclone Mocha in 2023, NavIC alerts helped evacuate coastal communities faster — saving hundreds of lives. Because NavIC signals come from satellites directly above us, they’re often more reliable in remote areas or during natural disasters when ground networks fail.

The Future of Smart Navigation: NavIC + AI

The exciting part about NavIC is its potential when combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Imagine:

• Delivery drones that can reroute themselves during bad weather or traffic using NavIC location data and AI-based decision-making
• Farm advice apps that combine local weather and soil data with NavIC’s precise location information to guide farmers on planting and irrigation
• Military planning where troop movements and supplies are guided safely by AI using real-time satellite updates.
• Rescue operations that find the quickest, safest routes in disaster-hit areas, even when roads are blocked or maps are outdated

The AI-NavIC combination has the potential to transform various aspects of life, including:

- Urban planning: optimising traffic flow, redesigning crowded intersections, and streamlining public transportation

- Maritime surveillance: monitoring for illegal fishing, oil spills, and suspicious vessels

- Cybersecurity: detecting fake signals and hacking attempts aimed at navigation systems

India can also explore the use of quantum technology to make NavIC even more secure. This could involve developing signals that are impossible to hack or tamper with.

While there are challenges to overcome, such as launching more satellites and upgrading ground stations, these hurdles can be crossed with the right support.

Why it matters

NavIC is not just about navigation; it’s about control and independence. As we move deeper into the digital age, countries that own and manage their own navigation systems will be better equipped to respond to emergencies, manage their cities, protect their borders, and support their industries.

With NavIC and AI, India can take a significant step towards becoming a leader in navigation technology. As we look to the future, it’s essential to recognise the importance of owning and managing our own navigation systems.

(Nishant Sahdev is a theoretical physicist at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, United States)