Magnav system system architecture used in tests. Boxes with purple borders indicate components produced by Q-CTRL. The black limits indicate third -party inclusions (for example, the “classic” Vector Fluxgate Vectureometer). We include an INS in our test system, but this can possibly be replaced by a flow directly from the vehicle flight management system. In the flight tests presented below, we take advantage of different speed sensor inputs as part of the system validation; The ultimate performance of the GNSS would incorporate signals only on -board speed sensors. The Infreames in ground tests had no speed aid source. Credit: arxiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550 / Arxiv. 2004.08167
A team of Q-CTRL researchers, a quantum infrastructure software manufacturer based in Sydney, Australia, announced the successful demonstration of its new quantum navigation system called “Ironstone Opal”.
The group wrote an article describing the operation of their system and to what extent it has tested the backup systems of backup currently available and published it on the arxiv pre -printed server.
With the advent and subsequent dependence on general practitioners by private and military vehicles and planes for navigation, governments have understood how vulnerable these systems can be. The breakdowns can lead to the driver’s corner, pilots rush to use obsolete systems and difficulties deployment of military assets. For this reason, scientists from around the world sought reasonable backup systems, even possible alternatives to GPS.
In this new effort, the Q-CTRL team has developed such a backup system and affirms that it is 50 times more precise than any other backup GPS currently available in certain scenarios.
The new system, Ironstone Opal, uses quantum sensors that are so sensitive that they can be used to precisely self-find an object using the magnetic field of the earth. The Q-CTRL team noted that the magnetic field varies depending on the location in relation to the earth. To take advantage of this, they built sensors that can read the domain accurately, then use AI software to give X and Y geographic coordinates in the same way as GPS.
The researchers note that their system is passive, which means that it does not emit signals which could be “heard” by other devices and cannot be stuck. They also note that their software system can filter the noise generated by vehicles or aircraft carrying the sensors. They point out that the system is small enough to be installed in any car, truck or other land vehicle, as well as in drones and other planes.
System tests on the ground say the researchers have shown that it was 50 times more precise than any other GPS backup system. In the air, it turned out to be 11 times more precise than other backup systems.
(a) Diagram showing the arrangement of the instrumentation on the flight test in flight. Q-CTRL quantum magnetometers have been set up internally in a high noise location. Additional Aimtometers have been placed outside in order to obtain a truth on the ground and for comparison purposes. The Pitot tube provided a scalar speed input to help it. (b) Photography of a single quantum quantum CTRL CTRL Q-CTRL, shown alongside a quarter-dollars’ American coin for a direction of the scale. (c) Cessna 208b large caravan used for tests. (d) Positioning of the Q-CTRL sensor package, power supply, control electronics and journalization equipment inside the plane. It is a triple-retaining configuration used for tests and validation; A single pair of scalar / vector magnetometer includes a complete Magav hardware system. The dotted box shows a potential minimum configuration composed of a scalar magnetometer Q-CTRL, a vector rack-fir-linegate magnetometer and an auxiliary control electronics, with a total volume of 4.2 L. The same on-board system operating in the strap configuration is used in ground tests. Credit: arxiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550 / Arxiv. 2004.08167
More information:
Murat Muradoglu et al, quantum -assured magnetic navigation achieves positioning precision better than strategic Ins in the field tests in the air and on the ground, arxiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550 / Arxiv. 2004.08167
arxiv
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