“Satellite-based global positioning systems, or GPS, have been the primary method of aerospace navigation for decades. But with GPS jamming and spoofing on the rise, the industry is pushing for an update, and fast.
Now, Airbus's Silicon Valley-based innovation center, Acubed, and artificial intelligence and quantum-focused Google spinout SandboxAQ are on a mission to demonstrate an alternate way. It involves a small, toaster-size box, lasers, a single GPU chip and a deep knowledge of the Earth's magnetic field.
The technology, known as quantum sensing, has been in development for decades at a number of companies and is now inching closer to commercialization in aerospace.
Acubed recently took MagNav, SandboxAQ's quantum-sensing device, on a large-scale test, flying with it for more than 150 hours across the continental U.S. on a general aviation aircraft that Acubed calls its "flight lab."
MagNav uses quantum physics to measure the unique magnetic signatures at various points in the Earth's crust. An AI algorithm matches those signatures to an exact location. During the test, Acubed found it could be a promising alternative to GPS in its ability to determine the plane's location throughout the flights.
"The hard part was proving that the technology could work," said SandboxAQ Chief Executive Jack Hidary, adding that more testing and certifications will be required before the technology makes it out of the testing phase. SandboxAQ will target defense customers first but then also commercial flights, as a rise in GPS tampering makes the need for a backup navigation system on flights more urgent.
Airbus said it couldn't comment on future plans around using the technology. "I'm happy that we've been able to invest so far in this," said Eric Euteneuer, principal systems engineer at Acubed. "I think that it really shows that this technology can be a potential aid," he said.
So-called GPS jamming, when geopositioning signals are blocked so a flight location isn't shown, and spoofing, when a GPS shows a false location, are on the rise in the Middle East and around Ukraine and Russia. Various militaries in the region might use such techniques to keep missiles and drones from finding their targets, but the practice can impact civilian flights.
GPS works by broadcasting precise signals from a constellation of satellites that circle the globe. But militaries and bad actors can also send out fake signals, broadcast from the ground, that are hard to distinguish.
The quantum sensing device is completely analog, making it essentially unjammable and unspoofable, SandboxAQ's Hidary said. Unlike GPS, it doesn't rely on any digital signals that are vulnerable to hacking. The information it provides is generated entirely from the device on board, and leverages magnetic signatures from the Earth, which cannot be faked, he said.
Quantum sensing will likely not replace all the applications of traditional GPS, but it can be a reliable backup and help pilots actually know when GPS is being spoofed, Hidary said.
Inside SandboxAQ's device, essentially a small black box, a laser fires a photon at an electron, forcing it to absorb that photon. When the laser turns off, that electron goes back to its ground state, and releases the photon. As the photon is released, it gives off a unique signature based on the strength of the Earth's magnetic field at that particular location.
Every square meter of the world has a unique magnetic signature based on the specific way charged iron particles in the Earth's molten core magnetize the minerals in its crust. SandboxAQ's device tracks that signature, feeds it into an AI algorithm that runs on a single GPU, compares the signature to existing magnetic signature maps, and returns an exact location. "It's the first novel absolute navigation system to our knowledge in the last 50 years," Hidary said.” [1]
Quantum sensing devices are being developed and tested for use on ocean ships and submarines too.
However, there are still challenges to overcome before their widespread adoption in marine environments:
Vibrations and Interference: The movement of ships and the presence of electrical and magnetic fields can negatively affect the performance of quantum sensors, potentially degrading accuracy and sensitivity.
Environmental Factors: Marine environments pose challenges like saltwater corrosion, pressure at deep depths, and biofouling (buildup of organisms) that need to be addressed in the design and packaging of these sensitive devices.
Cost and Scalability: Quantum sensors are currently expensive and complex, requiring specialized expertise to operate, according to the website of Prism Sustainability Directory. Miniaturization and cost reduction are needed for widespread use.
Progress and applications
Despite these hurdles, significant progress is being made:
Quantum gyroscopes and accelerometers are being developed for navigation systems on ships and submarines, offering potential improvements in accuracy and stability compared to traditional systems, especially in environments where GPS is unreliable or unavailable, says The Futurum Group.
Quantum gravimeters are being tested for seabed mapping and potentially detecting submarines by sensing subtle variations in gravity, according to International Defense Security & Technology.
Quantum magnetometers could enhance submarine detection and communication capabilities, according to Popular Mechanics.
Companies are working on developing robust and resilient quantum sensors designed to withstand the harsh conditions of marine environments and integrate with existing platforms.
In short, while some challenges remain, quantum sensing technology is showing immense promise and is actively being adapted and tested for a variety of applications in the challenging marine environment.
1. Novel Aerospace Navigation Tool Relies on Earth's Magnetic Field. Bousquette, Isabelle. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 16 July 2025: B4.
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