Turning Field Tests into Real Progress

Over the past quarter, the BadB project has continued to build steady momentum. We marked the end of this phase with a week-long development sprint in Tartu, where our teams once again brought aerial and ground platforms (UAV and UGV) together for joint field testing.

These shared tests are a vital part of our journey toward GNSS-free navigation. While lab development gives us the controlled environment needed to design and refine new capabilities, real progress depends on how they perform in real-life conditions. That is where ideas are challenged, improved, and turned into practical solutions.

During the workshop, we gathered a significant amount of synchronized test data from both platforms. This data now forms the basis for the next stage of development, helping us improve system performance, strengthen integration, and move closer to a fully functioning operational solution. It is especially valuable for advancing machine vision modules and for integrating satellite map imagery into both UAV and UGV platforms.

At this stage of the project, the focus is no longer only on improving individual components. More and more, the work is about bringing different technologies together into one coherent system. That is why these in-person workshops matter so much. When engineers work side by side, testing ideas directly in the field, they can quickly explore different approaches, solve challenges collaboratively, and find the best ways to make separate systems work seamlessly together.

We are now approaching an important milestone: the completion of the project’s first year. The work done so far is beginning to deliver the first tangible results, which is an encouraging sign for everything ahead. At the same time, we know that achieving the project’s full ambitions will require continued focus, persistence, and close cooperation.

What gives us confidence is the strength of the consortium behind the project. Over the past months, we have not only developed technology, but also strengthened the way we work together. That growing trust, shared experience, and practical collaboration give us a strong foundation for the next stages of development.