Royal Navy Successfully Tests Quantum-Sensing Technology (royalnavy.mod.uk) 25
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Royal Navy: The Royal Navy has successfully demonstrated the capabilities of ground-breaking cold atom technology. P2000 vessel HMS Pursuer hosted the trial, which unlocks new possibilities in areas such as covert monitoring, which require precise signals for accurate positioning, navigation and timing. The Office of the Chief of Technology Officer (OCTO) for the RN worked with UK quantum technology company Aquark Technologies. The trial involved the company's miniature cold atom systems, founded on Aquark's unique laser-cooling method, known as supemolasses.
This method to generate cold atoms does not need an applied magnetic field, therefore reducing the size, weight, power consumption and cost of sensors. A cold atom is an atom that has been laser-cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically near absolute zero (-273.15C). At these temperatures, the thermal motion of atoms is very slow, allowing their quantum mechanical properties to be precisely controlled. Quantum Sensing is an advanced sensor technology that detects changes in motion, and electric and magnetic fields, by collecting data at the atomic level. Commander Matthew Steele, who heads up Future Technology for OCTO, said: "Quantum technologies being developed in the UK will offer an alternative Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capability necessary to operate effectively in GPS denied or degraded environments."
"Over the next three years, the Navy seeks to accelerate the development of quantum technologies -- such as Aquarks -- through funding and sea trials, to secure the Royal Navy an opportunity to invest in a non-GPS-based PNT capability and to maintain its global operating advantage."
This method to generate cold atoms does not need an applied magnetic field, therefore reducing the size, weight, power consumption and cost of sensors. A cold atom is an atom that has been laser-cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically near absolute zero (-273.15C). At these temperatures, the thermal motion of atoms is very slow, allowing their quantum mechanical properties to be precisely controlled. Quantum Sensing is an advanced sensor technology that detects changes in motion, and electric and magnetic fields, by collecting data at the atomic level. Commander Matthew Steele, who heads up Future Technology for OCTO, said: "Quantum technologies being developed in the UK will offer an alternative Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capability necessary to operate effectively in GPS denied or degraded environments."
"Over the next three years, the Navy seeks to accelerate the development of quantum technologies -- such as Aquarks -- through funding and sea trials, to secure the Royal Navy an opportunity to invest in a non-GPS-based PNT capability and to maintain its global operating advantage."
Bullshit...bullshit...bullshit... (Score:2, Insightful)
and more bullshit. Was anybody capable of identifying any actual fact in that "story"?
Re:Bullshit...bullshit...bullshit... (Score:4, Insightful)
This wasn't an AI article, nor a quantum computing article, you cantankerous old coot. These are quantum sensors used for dead reckoning, discussion (wired link at top) [ycombinator.com]
Non-Specific Quantum Sensors (Score:4, Insightful)
It sounds like here it is probably linear and angular acceleration needed for dead reckoning. I'd be curious to learn how they get the incredibly cold temperatures they need on a moving ship though. The systems my colleagues have in their labs need significant vibration isolation from the building they are in and a stationary building has far less vibration that a ship at sea with an engine running.
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There's something called OCTO related to the Royal Navy. That's a fun fact, I would say. Does that count?
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Sorry, I was completely unable to look that up. What does "OCTO" mean?
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I think OCTO might be an arch-villian in the Spiderman universe... but I could be mistaken.
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"We must stop Doctor Octopus before he completes his quantum sensor and ..."
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I searched for: "OCTO royal navy" and there it was:
"Office of the Chief Technology Officer"
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Don't know. I couldn't read any further after "supemolasses".
Seriously? Try harder.
Sigh.
Um... (Score:3)
miniature cold atom systems
I feel like there should be some commas and/or hyphens in this.
I mean, do cold atoms come in different sizes?
do cold atoms come in different sizes? (Score:2)
I am guessing that a cold Lithium atom is smaller that a cold Ytterbium atom, but by how much I wouldn't know.
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I suspect "miniature" applies to the equipment, thus
... cold atom miniaturized systems ...
Aquark Technologies successfully raised €5 mi (Score:4)
That's the whole story. Someone got some money. Everything else was noise.
What is missing from this press release (Score:5, Informative)
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" And by integrating acceleration measures, a process called inertial navigation, one can infer the position."
The first generation of ballistic missile submarines were using inertial navigation systems back in the early 60's, no quantum entanglements were required.
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Except they spoke about "covert monitoring"? Then just better inertial navigation for remote submarines, UUV's?
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How could a GPS receiver be detected? It only receive signals from satellites, but never send anything.
It is obvious that inertial navigation has the advantage of being unaffected by GPS jamming, which occurs a lot in some regions nowadays, but the covert claim is weird.
We probably should admit the press release is badly written. We should not expect too much from it.
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FTA No Idea what it's for .... (Score:2)
Guessed inertial navigation except there is mention of "covert monitoring". What ?