What Anello Photonics does

Anello Photonics is a Santa Clara, California-based private semiconductor and photonics company founded in 2017–2018 that has developed the world's first commercial Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG). The company's core technology replaces the discrete optical components and hand-spliced fiber coils of traditional Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOGs) with integrated photonic circuits fabricated on a silicon chip, enabling fiber-optic-class gyroscope performance (<0.5°/hr bias instability, <0.05°/√hr angular random walk) in a chip-scale, cost-effective, and silicon-manufacturable form factor. The SiPhOG platform is inherently immune to acoustic, vibration, and RF interference, addressing a critical vulnerability of MEMS-based inertial sensors in contested environments.

Anello's product portfolio spans the full INS/IMU family built on this core technology: the ANELLO Maritime INS (for USVs and AUVs), ANELLO Aerial INS (for BVLOS UAS, VTOL drones, and ISR aircraft), ANELLO Ground INS and Ground IMU (for autonomous ground vehicles, robotics, construction, and agriculture), the ANELLO X3 IMU (the world's smallest 3-axis optical gyro IMU), and evaluation kits for development integration. All products share the company's proprietary AI-based Sensor Fusion Engine, which combines optical gyro, accelerometer, GNSS, and velocity-aiding data through an Extended Kalman Filter augmented by machine learning for environmental modeling, spoofing/jamming detection, and bounded drift during GPS-denied operations.

The company generates revenue primarily through direct enterprise hardware sales of INS and IMU systems to defense contractors, U.S. government agencies (Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Space Force, Department of War), and commercial autonomous-systems OEMs, supplemented by a growing global reseller program, OEM/embedded integration partnerships (e.g., Vatn Systems' INStinct), and professional integration services. Anello is venture-backed with approximately $53M+ in disclosed equity funding across Series A ($28M, 2021), Series B (2024), and Series B-2 ($25M, 2026), plus non-dilutive government funding including a $20M Department of War APFIT award and multiple SBIR grants. The company maintains 80+ issued or pending patents protecting its SiPhOG platform and AI sensor fusion technology.

Name

Anello Photonics

Legal name

ANELLO Photonics, Inc.

Website

https://anellophotonics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Anello Photonics is a Santa Clara-based private company that builds the SiPhOG silicon photonic optical gyroscope and a family of GPS-denied inertial navigation systems for defense, maritime, aerial, and autonomous ground applications. It serves the U.S. Navy, Army, and Marine Corps plus commercial autonomous-system OEMs via direct enterprise sales and a global reseller network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inertial Navigation Systems

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Inertial Navigation Systems (INS/IMU) (IMABAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH), Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB), Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Silicon photonic gyroscope
• Inertial navigation systems
• GPS-denied navigation
• Optical gyroscope technology
• Inertial measurement units

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Clara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales (INS & IMU Systems): ANELLO generates the majority of its revenue from the direct sale of inertial navigation systems (INS) and inertial measurement units (IMU). Product portfolio includes ANELLO Maritime INS, ANELLO Aerial INS, ANELLO Ground INS, ANELLO Ground IMU, ANELLO X3 IMU, and Evaluation Kits. These are sold as complete integrated systems or as embedded components for OEM integration by partners and customers. Revenue is one-time capital expenditure for hardware with potential for after-market services, spare parts, and extended support contracts.
2. Channel/Reseller Revenue: ANELLO operates a global reseller network where third-party channel partners purchase and resell ANELLO products. This expands market reach across geographic regions and customer segments without direct sales investment. Resellers benefit from discounted demo systems, technical training, and ongoing support.
3. Professional Services & Integration Support: ANELLO provides technical integration support, professional services for embedding its SiPhOG technology into customer platforms (maritime, aerial, ground), and custom development engagements. These services are particularly relevant for defense customers and OEM partners requiring system-level integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Anello Photonics designs and manufactures silicon photonic optical gyroscopes (SiPhOG) and inertial navigation systems (INS/IMUs) that deliver fiber-optic gyroscope-class performance in chip-scale form factors for GPS-denied navigation. Its product portfolio includes the Maritime INS, Aerial INS, Ground INS, Ground IMU, X3 IMU, and evaluation kits, all powered by the proprietary SiPhOG integrated photonic chip and an AI-based sensor fusion engine. The company serves defense, government, and commercial autonomous-system customers across maritime, aerial, ground, and agricultural applications.

Product overview

ANELLO Photonics is a platform technology company that has developed the SiPhOG (Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope) — the world's first integrated silicon photonic optical gyroscope — which serves as the foundational core technology powering its full product portfolio. The SiPhOG replaces discrete optical components of traditional fiber-optic gyroscopes by integrating them onto a single silicon chip, delivering fiber-optic-class performance in a compact, scalable, and cost-effective form factor. The product portfolio consists of the SiPhOG chip-level technology itself, the ANELLO X3 IMU (the world's smallest 3-axis optical gyroscope IMU with triple-redundant MEMS sensors), the ANELLO Ground INS (rugged inertial navigation system for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and construction), the ANELLO Ground IMU (rugged optical gyro module), the ANELLO Ground INS/ATAK Kit (military-grade bundle), the ANELLO Maritime INS (purpose-built for GPS-denied maritime operations with IP68 and AI sensor fusion), and the ANELLO Aerial INS (compact system for UAVs and aerial platforms). All products share the SiPhOG optical gyroscope core and the proprietary AI-based Sensor Fusion Engine that combines multi-sensor data through Extended Kalman Filtering and machine learning for GPS-denied navigation across land, air, and sea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SiPhOG™: Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope - ANELLO's core technology platform delivering fiber-optic class performance in a chip-scale form factor for GPS-denied navigation applications.

Products and services

• ANELLO Maritime INS High-performance inertial navigation system designed for autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) and autonomous underwater vessels (AUVs) operating in GPS-denied, jammed, or spoofed maritime environments. Combines SiPhOG optical gyroscope technology with an AI sensor fusion engine, sub-0.5°/hr heading drift, dual triple-frequency GNSS receivers, IP68 waterproofing, and <6W power consumption.
• ANELLO Aerial INS Compact high-performance inertial navigation system built around proprietary SiPhOG technology with integrated multi-band GNSS receivers for BVLOS UAS, maritime VTOL drones, ISR aircraft, and heavy-lift cargo drones. Delivers <0.5°/hr unaided heading drift and >98% navigation accuracy without cameras or fiber-optic cables.
• ANELLO X3 IMU Ultra-compact 3-axis optical gyroscope IMU leveraging three SiPhOG units as low-noise, low-drift optical smart sensors, each with an independent 6-axis redundant MEMS IMU (18 sensor axes total). Features <0.5°/hr gyro bias instability and <0.05°/√hr angular random walk, designed for aerial, robotics, and GPS-denied autonomy applications.
• ANELLO Ground INS High-performance optical gyro inertial navigation system for autonomous navigation across every terrain. Features <0.5°/hr unaided heading drift, reference-grade 100 Hz position/velocity/attitude output, dual multi-band RTK-capable GNSS engines, Ethernet and RS-232 interfaces, IP68 rating, and accurate positioning for up to 30 minutes in GPS-denied conditions.
• ANELLO Ground IMU Rugged optical gyro IMU using SiPhOG technology in a SWaP-optimized form factor, delivering high-precision inertial measurement for robotics and construction autonomy in GPS-denied or GNSS-challenged environments.
• ANELLO Ground INS/ATAK Kit Integrated bundle combining the ANELLO Ground INS with the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) platform, providing seamless integration and real-time situational awareness for military and defense ground vehicle navigation applications.
• ANELLO GNSS INS Evaluation Kit (EVK) Evaluation kit based on Anello's optical gyroscope and sensor fusion engine for mapping, surveying, robotics, construction, trucking, defense, aerospace, and autonomous vehicle applications. Includes USB and Ethernet interfaces for plug-and-play testing and is available for immediate purchase.
• SiPhOG (Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope) The world's smallest high-precision optical gyroscope based on integrated photonic system-on-chip technology. Uses an on-chip waveguide manufacturing process integrated with a patented silicon photonic chip-scale gyroscope, delivering fiber-optic gyro performance using cost-effective and scalable silicon manufacturing. Core technology platform that also is offered/licensed for OEM integration.
• ANELLO X3 Optical Gyroscope World's smallest and lightest 3-axis high-performance optical gyroscope chip-level product leveraging three SiPhOG units each containing independent 6-axis redundant IMU sensors with ASIL-D ready safety-rated components.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.3% total drift during 30-minute GPS-denied USV operations (SAAB demonstration, Gulf of Aqaba)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BlackSea TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026ANELLO Photonics announced on April 20, 2026 that its Maritime Inertial Navigation System (INS) has been selected and integrated into BlackSea Technologies' Chaser autonomous surface vessel (USV) platform, following successful demonstration on the GARC platform. The collaboration enables continuous, high-precision navigation independent of GNSS availability, addressing critical vulnerabilities such as jamming and spoofing in GPS-denied and contested maritime environments.
• Q-CTRLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL announced a strategic collaboration on March 24, 2026 to develop resilient navigation solutions for UAVs operating in GPS-denied environments. The partnership integrates ANELLO's silicon photonics optical gyroscope technology with Q-CTRL's Ironstone Opal quantum magnetic navigation capabilities. The combined multi-layered Quantum Navigation Solution delivers continuous, bounded positioning estimates without degradation over mission duration, addressing a $1 billion daily threat from GPS disruptions in the U.S.
• SeasatscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 19 March 2026ANELLO Photonics launched the ANELLO Maritime INS on March 19, 2026, with Seasats already integrated into its autonomous surface vessels. The ANELLO Maritime INS integrates SiPhOG technology with an AI sensor fusion engine, featuring sub-0.5 degree-per-hour heading drift, dual triple-frequency GNSS receivers, and IP68 waterproofing in a compact form factor consuming less than 6 watts.
• Mythos AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026ANELLO Photonics and Mythos AI announced a strategic collaboration on February 26, 2026 to develop resilient, plug-and-play navigation solutions for the maritime sector. The collaboration combines ANELLO's Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG) inertial navigation technology with Mythos AI's intelligent autonomy software to create GPS-independent navigation systems for both next-generation and legacy maritime platforms. The partnership targets the growing USV market for applications including offshore energy, maritime security, hydrography, environmental monitoring, and defense missions.
• Delta Black AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026ANELLO Photonics and Delta Black Aerospace announced a collaboration on February 3, 2026 to integrate high-performance inertial navigation systems into uncrewed aircraft platforms designed for GPS-denied environments. The partnership aims to improve navigation accuracy, autonomy, and mission continuity in contested or GPS-degraded military environments, supporting military and defense applications and aligning with defense priorities for resilient autonomy and assured PNT.
• Vatn SystemscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 15 October 2025Vatn Systems launched the INStinct inertial navigation system for autonomous underwater vehicles on October 15, 2025, powered by ANELLO Photonics' Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope. INStinct delivers fiber optic gyroscope-level performance at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems, supporting both surface and underwater operations. Vatn plans to equip numerous underwater vehicles with INStinct by end of 2025, representing a milestone in Vatn's strategy to own the full tech stack for underwater vehicles.
• BEAMAGINEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2024ANELLO Photonics and BEAMAGINE announced a strategic partnership on July 29, 2024 to enhance vehicle localization in challenging automotive environments. The collaboration combines ANELLO's SiPhOG optical gyroscope technology with BEAMAGINE's solid-state LiDAR and vision solutions for robust autonomous vehicle navigation in environments where GPS is unreliable.
• Key Dollar CabminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2024ANELLO Photonics and Key Dollar Cab joined forces on June 3, 2024 to revolutionize agricultural positioning technology in GPS-denied environments. Key Dollar Cab, an OEM and technology integrator with deep roots in the high-value crop sector, integrates ANELLO's SiPhOG technology into agricultural autonomous vehicle systems for precision farming in environments where GPS signals are obstructed by dense canopies.
• John Deere Startup Collaborator ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2023ANELLO Photonics was selected for John Deere's 2023 Startup Collaborator program, which helps startups enhance precision technology in agriculture and construction equipment. The program supports ANELLO's integration of SiPhOG-based navigation technology into agricultural autonomous vehicles operating in GPS-denied environments.
• Tower SemiconductorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Tower Semiconductor and ANELLO Photonics announced a strategic partnership on November 1, 2021 for a new silicon optical waveguide process technology. The partnership provides breakthrough optical performance for wide range of applications including automotive LiDAR, bio-sensing, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, microwave photonics, and optical communications. Tower Semiconductor provides silicon optical waveguide manufacturing capabilities supporting ANELLO's waveguide production.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Safran (iXblue): Safran acquired iXblue (formerly iXblue SAS) in 2022, making it the world's leading independent fiber-optic gyroscope and INS specialist serving defense and commercial markets. Safran/iXblue directly competes with ANELLO in the optical gyro INS market across maritime, naval, and space applications.
• KVH Industries: KVH is a long-standing FOG and INS specialist serving defense, industrial, and commercial navigation markets. Its fiber-optic gyro and IMU product lines compete head-to-head with ANELLO's SiPhOG-based INS in maritime, ground, and tactical-grade applications.
• Advanced Navigation: Advanced Navigation is an Australia-based INS/IMU specialist offering MEMS, FOG, and acoustic positioning solutions for defense, marine, aerospace, and autonomous vehicle customers. It overlaps with ANELLO across GPS-denied maritime, aerial, and ground INS use cases.
• SBG Systems: SBG Systems is a France-based manufacturer of INS/IMU and GNSS solutions for autonomous vehicles, surveying, marine, and aerospace. Its MEMS-based INS products compete with ANELLO's Ground INS and Aerial INS in the commercial autonomous-systems market.
• VectorNav Technologies: VectorNav specializes in tactical-grade MEMS-based INS/IMU for defense, aerospace, and autonomous systems. It targets similar customer profiles (UAVs, USVs, ground autonomy) as ANELLO and competes in the same rugged, SWaP-optimized inertial navigation use cases.
• EMCORE Corporation: EMCORE manufactures fiber-optic gyroscopes, ring-laser gyros, and inertial measurement/navigation systems primarily for defense and aerospace. Its FOG products are a direct functional competitor to ANELLO's SiPhOG-based INS for naval and aerospace platforms.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell is a global defense and aerospace incumbent producing navigation systems including ring-laser gyros and inertial reference units across commercial aviation, military aircraft, and naval platforms. It competes broadly with ANELLO in assured-PNT defense programs and has deep prime-contractor relationships.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman has decades of heritage in fiber-optic and ring-laser gyro INS, supplying inertial navigation for submarines, surface ships, aircraft, and weapons systems. It is a broad incumbent competitor to ANELLO across U.S. DoD navigation programs.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris provides inertial navigation, GPS-denied navigation, and PNT solutions across defense, maritime, and aerospace markets. Its broad portfolio includes INS products that overlap with ANELLO's Maritime, Aerial, and Ground INS offerings in contested-environment applications.

Others

• Q-CTRL: Q-CTRL is an ANELLO strategic partner (announced March 2026) whose Ironstone Opal quantum magnetic navigation complements SiPhOG inertial sensing in a multi-layered GPS-denied navigation stack. It is included as an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, illustrating the emerging quantum-PNT category in which ANELLO participates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/anellophotonics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anello-photonics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors21 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anello Photonics