3 ms·
The article lacks detail, but sounds like it's talking about something like an atomic gyroscope[1]. There are a few types of passive quantum navigation systems
by beloch 3y ago
The article lacks detail, but sounds like it's talking about something like an atomic gyroscope[1].
There are a few types of passive quantum navigation systems, but the principle is similar to a using a stopwatch and an old-school gyroscope to measure changes in momentum and then calculating your position via dead reckoning. It just sounds like quantum methods have let them get a lot more precise.
This is actually pretty exciting from the perspective of deep sea exploration. Once you get below the surface there's no GPS and it becomes difficult to fix your position. With one of these, you'd have something like GPS no matter how deep you go.
[1]https://www.nist.gov/noac/technology/time-and-frequency/atomic-gyroscopes https://www.nist.gov/noac/technology/time-and-frequency/atom...
- Animats 3y agoSubmarines have had good inertial navigation systems since the 1960s. Early gyros occupied about a cubic meter.[1] With a really big, heavy flywheel, it's easier to keep drift down. Nuclear submarines usually had three installed, for redundancy. [1] https://www.ion.org/museum/item_view.cfm?cid=2&scid=4&iid=4 https://www.ion.org/museum/item_view.cfm?cid=2&scid=4&iid=4
- BiteCode_dev 3y agoThis is pretty exciting from the perspective of any kind of navigation. If this gets into a phone, we will be able to navigate on a digital map with no signal at all.