Sandia National Laboratories atomic physicist Jongmin Lee examines the sensor head of a cold-atom interferometer that could help vehicles stay on course where GPS is unavailable.
(Photo by Bret Latter)
High-tech sensors could guide vehicles without satellites, if they can handle the ride
Words like “tough” or “rugged” are rarely associated with a quantum inertial sensor. The remarkable scientific instrument can measure motion a thousand times more accurately than the devices that help navigate today’s missiles, aircraft and drones. But its delicate, table-sized array of components that includes a complex laser and vacuum system has largely kept the technology grounded and confined to the controlled settings of a lab.
Jongmin Lee wants to change that.
The atomic physicist is part of a team at Sandia National Laboratories that envisions quantum inertial sensors as revolutionary, onboard navigational aids. If the team can reengineer the sensor into a compact, rugged device, the technology could safely guide vehicles where GPS signals are jammed or lost.
In a major milestone toward realizing their vision, the team has successfully built a cold-atom interferometer, a core component of quantum sensors, designed to be much smaller and tougher than typical lab setups. The team describes their prototype in the academic journal Nature Communications, showing how to integrate several normally separated components into a single monolithic structure. In doing so, they reduced the key components of a system that existed on a large optical table down to a sturdy package roughly the size of a shoebox.
“Very high sensitivity has been demonstrated in the lab, but the practical matters are, for real-world application, that people need to shrink down the size, weight and power, and then overcome various issues in a dynamic environment,” Lee said.
The paper also describes a roadmap for further miniaturizing the system using technologies under development.
The prototype, funded by Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development program, demonstrates significant strides toward moving advanced navigation tech out of the lab and into vehicles on the ground, underground, in the air and even in space.
Ultrasensitive measurements drive navigational power
As a jet does a barrel roll through the sky, current onboard navigation tech can measure the aircraft’s tilts and turns and accelerations to calculate its position without GPS, for a time. Small measurement errors gradually push a vehicle off course unless it periodically syncs with the satellites, Lee said.
Quantum sensing would operate in the same way, but the much better accuracy would mean onboard navigation wouldn’t need to cross-check its calculations as often, reducing reliance on satellite systems.
Roger Ding, a postdoctoral researcher who worked on the project, said, “In principle, there are no manufacturing variations and calibrations,” compared to conventional sensors that can change over time and need to be recalibrated.
Aaron Ison, the lead engineer on the project, said to prepare the atom interferometer for a dynamic environment, he and his team used materials proven in extreme environments. Additionally, parts that are normally separate and freestanding were integrated together and fixed in place or were built with manual lockout mechanisms.
“A monolithic structure having as few bolted interfaces as possible was key to creating a more rugged atom interferometer structure,” Ison said.
Furthermore, the team used industry-standard calculations called finite element analysis to predict that any deformation of the system in conventional environments would fall within required allowances. Sandia has not conducted mechanical stress tests or field tests on the new design, so further research is needed to measure the device’s strength.
“The overall small, compact design naturally leads toward a stiffer more robust structure,” Ison said.
Photonics light the way to a more miniaturized system
Most modern atom interferometry experiments use a system of lasers mounted to a large optical table for stability reasons, Ding said. Sandia’s device is comparatively compact, but the team has already come up with further design improvements to make the quantum sensors much smaller using integrated photonic technologies.
“There are tens to hundreds of elements that can be placed on a chip smaller than a penny,” said Peter Schwindt, the principal investigator on the project and an expert in quantum sensing.
Photonic devices, such as a laser or optical fiber, use light to perform useful work and integrated devices include many different elements. Photonics are used widely in telecommunications, and ongoing research is making them smaller and more versatile.
With further improvements, Schwindt thinks the space an interferometer needs could be as little as a few liters. His dream is to make one the size of a soda can.
In their paper, the Sandia team outlines a future design in which most of their laser setup is replaced by a single photonic integrated circuit, about eight millimeters on each side. Integrating the optical components into a circuit would not only make an atom interferometer smaller, it would also make it more rugged by fixing the components in place.
While the team can’t do this yet, many of the photonic technologies they need are currently in development at Sandia.
“This is a viable path to highly miniaturized systems,” Ding said.
Meanwhile, Lee said integrated photonic circuits would likely lower costs and improve scalability for future manufacturing.
“Sandia has shown an ambitious vision for the future of quantum sensing in navigation,” Lee said.
Original Article: At Sandia Labs, a vision for navigating when GPS goes dark
More from: Sandia National Laboratories
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Navigation system
- Gaza conflict presents biggest test yet for IDF’s handheld, 3D navigation tech
David Harel, CEO of the Israeli firm Asio Technologies, told Breaking Defense his company’s Orion device has deployed by the thousands with Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
- Driving Innovation In Embedded Technologies: Lessons From Siva Movva's Career
The field of embedded technology has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, revolutionizing various industries and enhancing the way we interact with technology. Siva Satyanarayan ...
- Kia introduces navigation powered by MapMyIndia in its cars
Besides the in-built GPS-based navigation system offered across its models, the MapMyIndia navigation will help Kia vehicle owners with more customised guidance on route and other features.
- LNG-fueled Matson newbuilds will have Kongsberg hybrid electrical systems
The three 3,600 TEU LNG-fueled Aloha class containerships on order at Philly Shipyard for Honolulu-headquartered Matson Navigation will feature Kongsberg Maritime hybrid electrical systems. At 260 ...
- Phelps Hospital introduces Maternal Outcomes Navigation
Phelps Hospital has launched Northwell Health’s Maternal Outcomes (MOMs) Navigation program, an initiative designed to improve maternal outcomes by providing resources, education and social support to ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Quantum inertial sensor
- UTA scientists test for quantum nature of gravity
A new study in Nature Physics from physicists at The University of Texas at Arlington reports on a deep new probe into the interface between the theories of gravity and quantum mechanics, using ...
- Scientists test for quantum nature of gravity
Science X is a network of high quality websites with most complete and comprehensive daily coverage of the full sweep of science, technology, and medicine news ...
- Physicists Pioneer New Quantum Sensing Platform
The researchers’ results have created a new resource for developing next-generation, ultra-sensitive quantum electronic devices.
- Creating quantum sensors - chemistry meets physics
Ben King didn’t set out to create a long-sought after material to be used in quantum sensing devices, but life, like quantum science, can be weird. King, a professor in chemistry at the University of ...
- How is quantum technology used in the military?
Quantum technology is at the forefront of most advanced nations’ long-term defence planning, from the US and EU to China.