Flying by the Sun: Solar-Based Celestial Navigation for UAVs

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in applications such as cargo delivery and disaster response. However, many UAVs depend on GPS for self-localization and navigation, making them vulnerable to jamming. This vulnerability has become critical in conflict zones like Ukraine and Russia, where extensive GPS jamming has been reported. In such environments, UAV operations are severely hindered, potentially affecting critical missions. This brief technical report proposes a novel GPS-independent localization method using celestial navigation based on the sun. Since it does not rely on GPS signals, the method offers robust navigation capabilities in GPS-denied conditions. We also discuss its potential applications and outline future technical challenges for practical implementation.