Advances in AI for Positioning, Navigation and Timing Applications

Robert Schoonmaker

BootINS Ltd.

Robert Schoonmaker was awarded a PhD. in Computational Condensed Matter Physics from Durham University in 2018 for research performed with the Durham Emergence Project, a collaboration between physicists and philosophers. He led a team investigating the use of ML methods to enhance Pedestrian Motion Models at Focal Point Positioning until 2023. Now he independently building GPU-compatible tomography simulation code, to enable machine learning and complex scanning projects.

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Stephen Clemmet

CEO, Silogic Technology

Stephen Clemmet is the founder of Silogic Technology and a Chartered Electronics Engineer with more than 30 years of experience in electronic systems design, EMC and applied technology development. His current work focuses on PNT integrity, including the detection and interpretation of GNSS jamming, spoofing and degradation in operational environments. Through Silogic Technology, he has developed and deployed systems used to gather real-world evidence, with the aim of improving early warning, operational understanding and resilience when GNSS cannot be fully trusted.

 

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Dr Iñigo Cortés

CTO and co-founder,, RobNav

Iñigo Cortés received his M.Sc. degree in Telecommunication Engineering from the School of Engineering at the University of Navarra, San Sebastián, Spain, in April 2018. Since then, he has been working in the Satellite-based Localization Systems department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS (Fraunhofer IIS), Nuremberg, Germany. In September 2022, he was promoted to Senior Scientist at Fraunhofer IIS. He received his Ph.D. in Computing and Electrical Engineering from Tampere University, Finland, in June 2024. His doctoral research focused on signal processing methods for robust tracking and their implementation on resource-constrained hardware using hardware/software co-design techniques. He was awarded the ICT Dissertation Award 2025 by the Fraunhofer Group for Information and Communication Technology (IUK-Technologie). In July 2024, he co-founded RobNav, where he is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), developing robust navigation, guidance, and control systems for aerospace and defence applications.

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Professor Paul Groves

Professor of Positioning and Navigation, University College London (UCL)

Paul Groves is Professor of Positioning and Navigation. He specialises in robust positioning and navigation techniques for challenging environments. These are a key enabler for many different engineering problems. He is interested in all navigation and positioning technologies, including global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), inertial sensors and environmental feature matching. Particular focuses include exploring novel positioning techniques, developing reliable urban positioning and integrating complex sensor combinations in multiple contexts. He is also author of the ~800-page book Principles of GNSS, Inertial, and Multisensor Integrated Navigation Systems (Artech House, 2008 and 2013).

Paul joined UCL's Space Geodesy and Navigation Laboratory (SGNL) in 2009 after 12 years at DERA and QinetiQ. He is an inventor of the GNSS shadow-matching technique and other approaches to 3D-mapping-aided GNSS. He has contributed to innovations in terrain-referenced navigation, visual navigation, positioning using Wi-Fi signals and AM radio broadcasts, heterogeneous feature-matching, detection of GNSS NLOS reception and multipath interference, and context-adaptive navigation. Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN), a member of the Institute of Navigation (ION), a Chartered Physicist. He is the recipient of the 2016 ION Thurlow Award and the 2024 RIN harold Spencer Jones Medal.

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Rebecca Middleton

AI Assurance Specialist, Cambridge Consultants

Rebecca Middleton is an AI Assurance Specialist with expertise in responsible AI, governance, risk management, and compliance. She has spent several years helping organisations implement practical approaches to AI assurance, ensuring that AI systems are safe, trustworthy, and aligned with regulatory and ethical expectations. Rebecca’s work focuses on bridging the gap between technical teams, policymakers, and business leaders, translating complex AI risks into clear, actionable governance and assurance practices. She is particularly interested in human oversight, AI safety, and building trust in emerging technologies.

 

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Bob Oates

Associate Director, Cambridge Consultants

Bob Oates is a specialist in the interaction between safety and security for operational technology, critical infrastructure, and IoT devices. He works within the Engineering Assurance Team at Cambridge Consultants, ensuring that intelligent, AI-enabled systems are safe and secure. In addition to his academic background, Bob has over a decade of industrial experience working in the critical national infrastructure, defence, aerospace, nuclear, and maritime domains, including acting as the head of security for the development of the world’s first commercial remotely operated ship. He holds an Honorary Professorship in Safety and Security at De Montfort University.

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Professor Ivan Petrunin

Professor of Signal Processing and Intelligent Systems in the Centre for Space Systems , Cranfield University

Prof Ivan Petrunin received the MSc degree in design of electronic equipment from the National Technical University of Ukraine, in 1998, and the Ph.D. degree in Applied Signal Processing from Cranfield University, in 2012. He is currently a Professor of Signal Processing and Intelligent Systems with the Centre for Space Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences of Cranfield University. His expertise covers areas of signal processing and artificial intelligence with application to resilient navigation and timing solutions for ground and aerial systems, perception and situational awareness for autonomous systems operations. Ivan's research has a particular emphasis on the enhancement of performance and safety aspects of operations by developing and employing techniques based on Artificial Intelligence.

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Freddy Saunders

Senior Consultant, Plextek

Freddy is a Chartered Physicist, who graduated from the University of Exeter in 2018 with a first-class honours degree in Physics. During his studies, he received the Exeter Physics Award, the Dean’s Commendation, and completed a year‑long placement at the Home Office Centre of Applied Science and Technology. Freddy joined Plextek in 2018, undertaking low‑to-mid‑TRL research primarily for defence applications, including: applying Deep Learning methods to exploit micro‑Doppler signatures for UAV classification, demonstrated transfer‑learning approaches across different sensor modalities, and helped develop a machine‑learning‑based RF propagation model. 

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