Assisted Navigation Through Inertial Quantum Equipment

ANTIQUE

ANTIQUE aims to analyze how self-reliant a vehicle’s quantum-assisted navigation can be in satellite-denied regions (tunnels, deep sea or rescue operations in tough environments) and how long it can be trusted for accurate navigation until the next satellite connection. This will be done by simulating a quantum inertial sensor in a real-world environment as part of a hybrid inertial navigation system (INS).

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The development of the INS in the modern sense started in the mid-1700s for marine navigation with compasses and gyroscopes. In the 1900s accelerometers developed rapidly to assist in aerial, land and marine navigation. Modern day Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) is often achieved by using a hybrid approach consisting of radio signals (external) and INS (internal). PNT applications affect us from day-to-day activities to crucial rescue operations.

Modern INSs contain an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with advanced accelerometers and gyroscopes. Due to inherent system errors, integral errors (drift), the complexity of gravity models and factors in the inertial reference system, INS cannot be used alone. Long-term accuracy is obtained with satellite-assisted data using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). But for highly dynamic cases and in GNSS-denied environments a quantum inertial sensor can fill the gap in state estimation. While it provides readings for longer time frames, it is free of drift and distortion as compared to a classic IMU. Hence, a quantum-IMU-GNSS sensor fusion would enable a high fidelity, real-time autonomous navigation solution.

But a software simulation of a quantum accelerometer or gyroscope with real-life disturbances has not been done until now. Hence, the objectives of ANTIQUE are as follows:

  • Development of a software model of a quantum inertial sensor which is:
    • With real-life noise models for its application in a ground-based simulation environment.
  • Analyse the trade-offs of a classical IMU versus a quantum-IMU hybrid with varying application parameters to identify the scenarios that benefit from a quantum sensor.

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Contact

Prof. Dr. Meike List

Director
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing
Am Fallturm 9, 28359 Bremen
Germany