The UK has conducted the first tests of quantum technology on board a short-haul aircraft, which could usher in a post-GPS era. These technologies promise a new era in navigation, where satellite positioning will give way to more advanced methods.
Max Perez, vice president of Infleqtion, said that the first significant application will be autonomous shipping. As the systems get smaller, they could be used in other areas where GPS signals can be weakened, including autonomous mining and other industries. Ultimately, the largest application will be personal autonomous vehicles, both on the ground and in the air.
At the core of Infleqtion's technology is a state of matter known as a Bose-Einstein condensate (Bose), which is extremely sensitive to acceleration. In the absence of an external GPS signal, an aircraft capable of accurately tracking its every rotation and acceleration can determine its exact position relative to its last known location.
Doug Finke, editor-in-chief of the research company Global Quantum Intelligence, believes that quantum navigation devices may become a key application for quantum sensing technologies. However, major obstacles remain to reducing the cost, size, and reliability of the technology. If the technology follows the evolution of computers, from huge mainframes to devices that fit in your pocket, it could become ubiquitous and even replace GPS by the end of the century.