Quantum Navigation Set to Transform How We Travel

Quantum technology is no longer confined to the lab—it's making its way into our everyday lives.

- Allison Kealy

Now, it's about to transform something even more fundamental: how we navigate the world.

Imagine submarines traveling beneath the ocean, never needing to surface for location updates. Planes flying across continents with unshakeable precision, unaffected by signal disruptions.

Emergency responders could navigate smoke-filled buildings or underground tunnels with flawless accuracy, while autonomous vehicles chart perfect courses through dense urban environments.

These scenarios might sound like science fiction, but they can all be made possible with an emerging approach known as quantum navigation.

This game-changing tech will one day redefine movement, exploration and connectivity in ways we're only just beginning to imagine. So, what is it?

Satellite navigation is at the heart of many things. Global navigation satellite systems, like GPS, are deeply embedded in modern society. We use them daily for navigation, ordering deliveries, and tagging photo locations. But their impact goes far beyond convenience.

Timing signals from satellites in Earth's orbit authenticate stock market trades and help balance the electricity grid. In agriculture, satellite navigation guides autonomous tractors and helps muster cattle.

Emergency services rely on navigation satellite systems for rapid response, reducing the time it takes to reach those in need.

Despite their benefits, systems like GPS are quite vulnerable. Satellite signals can be jammed or interfered with. This can be due to active warfare, terrorism or for legitimate (or illegitimate) privacy concerns. Maps like GPSJAM show real-time interference hotspots, such as those in the Middle East, areas around Russia and Ukraine, and Myanmar.