Is it goodbye to GPS? Quantum navigation system successfully tested.
The first commercial tests of quantum navigation technology have been conducted. Operating independently of traditional satellite positioning systems like GPS, the system provides more precise and reliable navigation.
Quantum Navigation System
A technology that has been long in the making and could potentially end dependency on GPS is finally becoming a reality. The first commercial tests of the quantum navigation system have been successfully completed. It is expected that the new technology will revolutionize the world of navigation in the future.
Developed by a British company named Infleqtion, the quantum-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system utilizes two new technologies: ultra-cold atoms and compact Tiqker optical atomic clocks. As a result, it has the potential to offer a much more precise and reliable navigation experience compared to GPS.
How does it work?
The cornerstone of modern PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) technology is precise clocks. The most significant advancement in this progress is the inclusion of portable ultra-cold atom production in the equation. Quantum accelerometers and gyroscopes created using ultra-cold atoms cooled to near absolute zero produce a navigation system that is more precise and resistant to interference compared to GPS. These systems can provide location and motion information very accurately without the need for external references.
The new technology promises to provide highly precise and stable navigation by complementing existing satellite systems. The quantum navigation system, operating independently of GPS, will enable aircraft to determine their position, direction, and speed more accurately. Additionally, it will not be affected by situations such as GPS signal jamming or spoofing, opening the door to safer flights.
The tests were highly successful
The trials, conducted in collaboration with aerospace companies BAE Systems and QinetiQ, utilized QinetiQ’s modified RJ100 Airborne Technology Demonstrator aircraft. During the tests, the first quantum aircraft navigation system achieved a significant success. The technologies tested during the flight will form part of a new navigation system called Q-INS (Quantum Inertial Navigation System).
GNSS/GPS signals are critical for economic, military, and strategic activities. Therefore, any disruption or manipulation of these signals can pose serious risks to operations. With quantum navigation reducing dependence on global positioning systems, all of these risks will be mitigated.
Led by Infleqtion, the project is supported by approximately £8 million from the government as part of the £2.5 billion National Quantum Technologies Strategy. The aim of the project is to make the UK a “leading quantum technologies economy” and to install quantum navigation systems on aircraft by 2030, providing higher precision and reliability without relying on satellite signals.
