GPS is synonymical identified with navigation and is a commonly used for positioning technologies. GPS is one of the best inventions of the internet age but there are a few issues that limit the usage of GPS. The fact that GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) are based on Satellites mean that they cannot be used if there are signals e.g. inside a cave, underwater, inside the parking lot: The drawbacks of Space based technology.
Scientists from UK claim to have found a way to replace GPS and without any kind of space based technology. It all started with research findings that revealed that LASERS can trap and cool atoms placed in vacuum. How cold? To temperatures just a millionth of a degree above absolute zero and of course, The research went onto win the Noble Prize. At these temperatures, atoms are extremely sensitive to changes in Earth’s Magnetic and Gravitational field.
Scientists at the UK Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DTSL) have utilized these research findings to trap the atoms on a small device, study their fluctuations to allow them to track their movements and pinpoint their locations with precision. At the moment, trails have been carried out using a device that is roughly 1 metre in length. The key really lies in the ability to create these devices at miniature sizes that can then be fitted inside a Smartphone.
Quantum Time, Navigation and Sensing (TNS) technologies could really change the way we navigate in the future. One of the biggest advantages of using Quantum Compass is that there is no known Physical law that can disturb these devices unlike the GPS which is vulnerable to attack and disturbance.
While this technology is perhaps more interesting to Militaries around the world with the ability to locate underwater and no vulnerability, it is only natural that with time this could really change the Navigation world. Already we had several interesting research papers on utilizing the magnetic field of the earth for positioning and navigation, this is perhaps the biggest research to have emerged in that direction.
Aside from navigation, quantum clocks could also be a lucrative market around the world.
The exploitation of quantum mechanics that underpins the laws of nature at the smallest length scales has already given the world a wealth of new technologies including semiconductors, microprocessors, lasers, nuclear energy, thermal imagers and digital cameras. – DailyMail
Quantum Compass: Navigation Technology of the future? What do you think? Let us know 🙂
Source: DailyMail
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Deputy Prime Ministry Dmitry Rogozin has threatened to deactivate all GPS infrastructure operating on Russian soil if the U.S. does not agree to allow Russia to place Glonass stations in US. Rogozin, who heads the country’s defense industry, said Russia will temporarily switch off 11 GPS stations on June 1. He said Russia will permanently close GPS stations from Sept. 1 if no solution is found with Washington.
The Russian Federal Space Agency – Roscosmos – appealed to the US authorities for permission to build several measuring stations for the GLONASS system in May 2012. Pentagon did not agree for that stating that it could be used to spy on American interests. There may also be commercial reasons for the US to promote its domestic system over the Russian one.
All the geo geeks know that GPS will not actually stop working in Russia as it’s a satellite based system. We don’t know what Rodozin meant in his statement. There are no GPS control stations on Russian soil. What he might have meant are DGPS stations or RTK reference stations which are used mostly for land surveying purposes. In that case it will create the biggest problems for Russian industry not really American.
Stay tuned. We will report you on all the news.
source: Wall Street Journal
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