Software-ruggedised quantum sensing for secure and accurate navigation without GPS

Speaker: Stuart Szigeti
Affiliation: Q-CTRL

Abstract

GPS has revolutionised positioning and navigation, with use cases spanning emergency services, logistics, aviation, and agriculture. However, the ubiquity of GPS is a key vulnerability; recent GPS-denial incidents have significantly disrupted aviation in Europe and the Middle East, and deliberate GPS jamming is a common battlefield occurrence in Ukraine. Although backup systems do exist and are widely deployed, the efficacy of current systems is highly limited. 

At Q-CTRL we are developing GPS-free navigation solutions based upon novel quantum atomic sensing technology. These solutions exploit the unparalleled measurement precision and long-term stability of quantum sensors relative to equivalent classical technology. The challenge, however, lies in achieving such sensitive and stable operation when deployed onboard real-world platforms (e.g. ships, planes, or spacecraft). In this colloquium, I will give an overview of how Q-CTRL is solving this challenge through a unique software-ruggedisation approach that trades complex mechanical systems for software-enabled quantum control solutions, resulting in compact and reliable quantum atomic sensors. I will present recent field trial results of Q-CTRL’s software-ruggedised quantum sensors, demonstrating the field-readiness of Q-CTRL’s quantum navigation solutions.