Engineers explore quantum technology to replace GPS in flight navigation

Engineers aim to replace vulnerable GPS with quantum tech based on Earth's magnetic fields.

: Engineers are exploring quantum sensing technology as a new approach to navigation due to vulnerabilities in the current GPS system. Collaboration between Airbus and SandboxAQ focuses on the MagNav system which uses Earth's magnetic cues, offering unjammable and unspoofable location data. Tests for this technology have shown it can meet and exceed Federal Aviation Administration's precision standards. Quantum sensing offers potential beyond aviation, such as detecting hidden objects and enhancing medical diagnostics.

In a bid to counter rising challenges associated with GPS disruption in aviation navigation, engineers are delving into quantum sensing technology as a potential alternative. Airbus, along with SandboxAQ, a company renowned for its focus on artificial intelligence and quantum sensing, is at the forefront of this innovation. They have collaborated to develop the MagNav system, a pioneering tool that utilizes Earth's natural magnetic fields instead of satellite signals to pinpoint an aircraft's location. This method promises resistance to the vulnerabilities that currently plague GPS, such as jamming and spoofing, which are increasingly frequent due to hostile actions or technical failures.

MagNav operates by reading subtle magnetic cues from the Earth's crust, leveraging onboard AI to cross-verify these readings with detailed magnetic maps, ensuring precise location fixes. This system was tested over 150 flight hours across the continental United States, carried by Airbus's subsidiary, Acubed's 'flight lab' aircraft. Such tests have shown that the MagNav system aligns with and sometimes surpasses the Federal Aviation Administration's standards for navigation precision, maintaining accuracy within two nautical miles and even within 550 meters in most scenarios.

Quantum sensing, at its core, represents a fundamentally different and resilient navigation methodology. The process involves the emission and reabsorption of photons, which reflect the local magnetic fields associated with each square meter of the Earth's surface. This system's reliance on unique magnetic 'fingerprints' makes it immune to traditional GPS vulnerabilities, offering unhackable and unjammable navigation data, which SandboxAQ's CEO Jack Hidary describes as a significant breakthrough in absolute navigation over the last five decades.

The implications of this technology extend beyond just aviation; as highlighted by Joe Depa of Ernst & Young, quantum sensors could play crucial roles in national defense by detecting hidden threats like submarines, improve medical diagnostic techniques through advanced magnetic field detection, and possibly offer new insights into biological functions, exemplifying a significant leap in technological innovation. Jack Hidary emphasizes that rather than being decades away, the technology is ready to be implemented, marking a turning point in how navigation systems might evolve in the near term.

In summary, the move towards quantum-based navigation systems by the team at Airbus and SandboxAQ signifies an innovative step forward in overcoming the limitations of GPS. The successful testing phase marks an exciting development that stands to redefine aviation navigation while also impacting various other fields, from defense to healthcare. The combination of quantum sensing capabilities and advanced AI provides a new paradigm in precision and reliability, minimizing the risks presently encountered with conventional systems.

Sources: TechSpot, Wall Street Journal

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