Scientists unveil next-gen quantum navigation 50x more accurate than GPS

As the breakthroughs in the quantum field continue, researchers have recently developed an innovative quantum-based navigation that is 50 times more precise than traditional GPS, with massive implications for multiple industries.

Specifically, a team of scientists at Q-CTRL, a quantum infrastructure software maker based in Sydney, Australia, has carried out a successful demonstration of its recently developed quantum navigation system called ‘Ironstone Opal,’ according to a report published by Tech Xplore on April 21.

Indeed, the researchers have developed this infrastructure as a backup navigation system for private and military vehicles and aircraft in case of outages and have argued that it is 50 times more accurate than any other backup GPS currently available under some scenarios.

How the next-gen quantum navigation works

To achieve this, Ironstone Opal relies on quantum sensors that are so sensitive they can precisely self-locate an object using the Earth’s magnetic field, which varies depending on location relative to the Earth. The sensors can accurately ‘read’ the field and then use artificial intelligence (AI) software to provide X and Y geographic coordinates.

At the same time, the system doesn’t emit any signals that can be ‘heard’ by other devices and it can’t be jammed, as well as being able to filter out noise generated vehicles or planes carrying the sensors. It is also small enough to fit any car, truck, or other land vehicle, and in drones and other aircraft.

Upon testing it on the ground, the researchers reportedly achieved 50 times the accuracy of any traditional GPS backup system, while in the air, the system performed 11 times better than other backup systems.

Meanwhile, scientists from the Universities of Bristol and Cambridge have successfully completed the United Kingdom’s first long-distance, ultra-secure video call over a quantum communications network.

Other advances in the quantum sphere include a better and more convenient method of selecting diamonds with certain optically active defects to use as highly sensitive sensors or qubits that store quantum data in their electron spin state for building quantum computers.