ITB Doctoral Student Aziz Fathurrahman Develops UAV Navigation for GPS-Denied Environments, Wins Best Paper at International Conferences
Bandung – Aziz Fathurrahman, a doctoral student in Aerospace Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FMAE/FTMD), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), has developed a visual-inertial-based navigation system for Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of operating in GPS-denied environments. This research was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ir. Hari Muhammad, Dr. Ir. Yazdi Ibrahim Jenie, S.T., M.T., and Ony Arifianto, Ph.D.
The study was motivated by the limitations of conventional UAV navigation systems that remain heavily dependent on Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. In certain scenarios, such as mountainous terrain, dense forests, canyons, or areas with significant physical obstructions, GPS signals are often unavailable or jammed. Consequently, alternative systems are required to maintain navigational accuracy and performance.
Through his research, Aziz developed a visual-inertial navigation approach that integrates data from camera sensors and inertial measurement units. A primary contribution of his work is the development of a Switching Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm, designed to enhance UAV navigation performance, particularly during transitions between environments with and without GPS signals.
His findings were presented at the
In addition to SAWAE-ISAST 2025, this research, which is part of Aziz’s doctoral dissertation, was also presented at ICARES 2025 under the title “Observability Analysis of a Switching Extended Kalman Filter for Small UAV Navigation.” While the first paper focused on conceptual and system development, the presentation at ICARES 2025 provided a deeper analytical dive into the developed algorithm.
ICARES is a prominent international conference focusing on aerospace engineering and space technology. Through an observability analysis approach, this study analytically demonstrated that the Switching EKF algorithm significantly improves UAV navigation accuracy in GPS-denied conditions. Aziz once again secured the
Reflecting on his research journey, Aziz noted that identifying “novelty” was a significant challenge, given the extensive development already present in the field of UAV navigation. He underwent a rigorous process of literature review, intensive discussions with supervisors, and engagement with fellow researchers and practitioners to define the right direction for his study.
Through these achievements, it is hoped that UAV navigation systems will become increasingly adaptive and reliable for diverse operational conditions. This success also highlights the contribution of FTMD ITB students to the development of globally relevant aerospace technology.
Aziz also shared a message for fellow students aspiring to publish papers and attend international conferences. He emphasized the importance of embracing the research process with passion and enjoying every stage, including the challenges. He believes this process not only produces scientific work but also fosters a critical mindset and readiness for the international research landscape.
Furthermore, he advised that students must be able to pinpoint the novelty in their research, adhere strictly to the writing standards of their target journals or conferences, and manage their schedules effectively. Thorough preparation for presentations is also vital to ensure that research findings are communicated confidently and within the allotted time.
