CQINS: Continuous Quantum Inertial Navigation Systems

Reliable and accurate positioning and navigation functionality is essential for much of or modern society. This need, however, is even stronger for critical national infrastructure (CNI), such as the emergency and defence services. Positioning and navigation are usually provided by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS, which is used to such an extent that GNSS is often described as the 'invisible utility'. However, our current overreliance on GNSS creates a large single point of failure and is therefore of significant national concern.

Prior to GNSS, inertial navigation systems (INS) were the standard for navigation. The accuracy of an INS depends critically on the sensitivity and noise performance of its inertial sensors, and they are currently used as a backup for GNSS.

By exploiting quantum superposition, atomic interferometers have been pushing the limits of inertial sensor noise and stability for the last decade in laboratories. Early deployable systems will use the fusion of quantum and classical inertial sensor data streams to enhance the performance in a so-called quantum-enhanced INS (Q-INS).

In this project, we will work closely with the beneficiaries of future quantum-enhance inertial navigation systems within UK government to co-develop the technology roadmap to fit best the nearest term needs. Successful completion of the project will pave the way toward deployable quantum-enhanced inertial navigation systems which can be used to provide secure positioning and navigation capability for the UK.