123 - Quantum Magnetometer and algorithms for integrated Map Matching and Map Building
DESCRIPTION
Magnetic crustal anomaly navigation is an alternative PNT technique which leverages the fact that the Earth’s crustal magnetic field exhibits spatial variations that can serve as a unique “fingerprint” for positioning. With sufficient sensitivity, these anomalies can be measured and matched to reference maps, enabling navigation in environments where other signals are unavailable or degraded. This approach is inherently passive, weather- independent, and resistant to external manipulation.
Recent research in quantum sensing, notably nitrogen vacancy diamond (a diamond presenting a vacancy in the structure and a nitrogen atom replacing a carbon atom) and atomic vapor cell magnetometers, enables sub-nanotesla resolution at room temperature. In addition, AI-based algorithms now allow for improved noise suppression to make the measurements in the field feasible. These developments open the door to a new class of navigation systems that combine quantum sensors, AI, and distributed map matching to deliver alternative positioning across land, sea, air, underground, and potentially space domains. A core capability of adding a magnetometer to a navigation platform is on-board magnetic map building: during normal operations, the quantum magnetometer incrementally constructs and maintains a high-resolution magnetic map of the environment, which can then be relied upon for robust map matching and localization in GNSS-degraded or GNSS- denied scenarios. Initiatives in this direction are underway outside Europe (for example by SandboxAQ in US and Q-CTRL in Australia), but comparable efforts are not yet established within Europe.
The objective of this activity is to design, develop, and demonstrate a map-matching and map-building quantum crustal magnetometer-based navigation platform.
The tasks to be performed shall include:
- System design for a set of operational scenarios determined during the activity
- Prototype of a room-temperature quantum magnetometer breadboard integrated in a navigation platform to perform map matching and building;
- AI-based filtering algorithm development;
- Field demonstrations in one of the operational scenarios.
The main outputs of the activity will consist of:
- Breadboard of the quantum magnetometer navigation platform;
- Software stack of the automated map matching/building ability;
- Test Campaign/Demonstration datasets;
- Field test report;
- Documentation package including system architecture and operation of the prototype.
It is noted that no Participating State expressed their opt-out for this activity (EL1-123).