In this article, we present a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in quantum navigation systems, with a specific focus on their application in maritime navigation. Quantum technologies have the potential to revolutionize navigation and positioning systems due to their ability to provide highly accurate and secure information. The review covers the principles of quantum navigation and highlights the latest developments in quantum-enhanced sensors, atomic clocks, and quantum communication protocols. In this article, we also discuss the challenges and opportunities of using quantum technologies in maritime navigation, including the effects that the maritime environment and the specificity of marine applications can have on the performance of quantum sensors. Finally, this article concludes with a discussion on the future of quantum navigation systems and their potential impact on the maritime industry. This review aims at providing a valuable resource for researchers and engineers interested in the development and deployment of quantum navigation systems.
In this article, we present a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in quantum navigation systems, with a specific focus on their application in maritime navigation. Quantum technologies have the potential to revolutionize navigation and positioning systems due to their ability to provide highly accurate and secure information. The review covers the principles of quantum navigation and highlights the latest developments in quantum-enhanced sensors, atomic clocks, and quantum communication protocols. In this article, we also discuss the challenges and opportunities of using quantum technologies in maritime navigation, including the effects that the maritime environment and the specificity of marine applications can have on the performance of quantum sensors. Finally, this article concludes with a discussion on the future of quantum navigation systems and their potential impact on the maritime industry. This review aims at providing a valuable resource for researchers and engineers interested in the development and deployment of quantum navigation systems.
Abstract The inherent vulnerability of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to interference, spoofing, and signal degradation highlights the urgent need for robust augmentation and alternative solutions to support resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services. Among emerging technologies, quantum sensing stands out for its ability to harness fundamental quantum phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, enabling absolute, drift-free and ultra-sensitive measurements of inertial forces, gravity, and magnetic fields with long-term stability and reduced dependency on external signals. This capability offers a promising pathway to enhance positioning and navigation performance in GNSS-denied or GNSS-contested environments. Here, we present a comprehensive review of quantum sensing technologies in the context of positioning and navigation, including cold atom interferometry, atomic vapour cell, superconducting quantum interference devices, and room temperature solid-state systems like nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond, and their potential to support positioning and navigation across a range of operational contexts. Both standalone and hybrid quantum-classical architectures are examined, with case studies illustrating their ability to reduce navigation drift and achieve sub-metre accuracy through quantum-enhanced inertial navigation, gravity-aided positioning, and magnetic field-matching approach. Despite their promise, challenges including decoherence, environmental robustness, miniaturisation, and integration complexity remain significant barriers to practical deployment. Rather than replacing existing classical systems, quantum sensors are best served as complementary solutions within multi-layered PNT frameworks. This review also identifies priorities for advancing field-deployable quantum positioning and navigation solutions, including sensor robustness, miniaturisation, seamless integration, and the development of protocols to quantify quantum performance. Aligned with international quantum initiatives, this work contributes to the vision of secure, interference-resistant navigation infrastructure for scientific, industrial, and defence applications.
The current rise of quantum technology is compelled by quantum sensing research. Thousands of research labs are developing and testing a broad range of sensor prototypes. However, there is a lack of knowledge about specific applications and real-world use cases where the benefits of these sensors will be most pronounced. This study presents a comprehensive review of quantum sensing state-of-practice. It also provides a detailed analysis of how quantum sensing overcomes the existing limitations of sensor-driven systems’ precision and performance. Based on the review of over 500 quantum sensor prototype reports, we determined four groups of quantum sensors and discussed their readiness for commercial usage. We concluded that quantum magnetometry and quantum optics are the most advanced sensing technologies with empirically proven results. In turn, quantum timing and kinetics are still in the early stages of practical validation. In addition, we defined four systems domains in which quantum sensors offer a solution for existing limitations of conventional sensing technologies. These domains are 1) GPS-free positioning and navigating services, 2) time-based operations, 3) topological visibility, and 4) environment detection, prediction, and modeling. Finally, we discussed the current constraints of quantum sensing technologies and offered directions for future research.
With the continuous improvement of the demand for navigation and positioning services, the accuracy and security of traditional navigation systems have become the limits of future applications.The development of quantum technology has become the hope of a new generation of navigation systems.This paper summarizes and analyzes the research status of quantum active positioning system and passive positioning system and their core technologies, and compares their advantages and disadvantages, and the future development trend of the corresponding technology.Finally, based on the analysis of the problems of quantum navigation system, this paper proposes a solution that may be applied in the future, and puts forward the prospect of the development of quantum navigation system. 1.IntroductionThe position of an object in space can be referred to as its spatial information.Since ancient times, people's daily life has always been closely related to time and space information.We have made great efforts to get our own accurate spatial information.According to statistics, more than 85% of our information is related to time and space.People's demand for positioning and navigation is increasing, and the dependence on location services is becoming stronger.The breadth and depth of application of positioning and navigation are also gradually expanding.In March 2017, the European Navigation Satellite System Authority (GSA) released the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Market Report, which is expected to cover the global GNSS industry in 2025, including eight application areas such like location services, roads, aviation, maritime, agriculture, where location service and road applications account for more than 90% of the market.It can be seen that people's increasingly strong dependence on positioning and navigation makes the breadth and depth of the application field of positioning and navigation gradually expand.Although the application of GNSS represented by GPS has been widely used, its accuracy and security issues have begun to become prominent in current practical applications.In indoors, underground and cities, canyons and other scenes, GPS cannot provide continuous and accurate services due to occlusion of signals.In addition, radio signals can be eavesdropped or even rewritten, which also causes GPS security to be challenged.Therefore, the main challenge for next-generation navigation technology is high availability and high credibility.In this case, a quantum technology-based navigation system may be the solution.The Quantum Positioning System (QPS) was first proposed in 2001 by Dr. Giovanniti of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the journal Nature.It is proved by calculation that the quantum entanglement and compression characteristics can further improve the positioning accuracy.By means of the preparation of quantum entangled state and its transmission technology, QPS no longer uses electromagnetic waves, which can not only break through the limits of traditional positioning accuracy, but also provide good protection in terms of confidentiality and anti-
Modern developments have led to a breakthrough in quantum technology that is the key to improving navigation and positioning systems. Translation of concepts such as superposition, entanglement, and quantum interference into quantum sensors pave the way toward high precision and accuracy in measuring gravitational, magnetic, and inertial forces. This chapter provides information on the performance of quantum sensors emphasizing navigation and positioning techniques. The superior performance of quantum accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers regarding sensitivity, non-drift, and lower errors are compared to classical systems. In addition, the implementation of quantum sensors in systems that can work alone, and in systems that are incorporated with classical GPS systems but have added quantum advantages is explained. This work also discusses the current research and development efforts on quantum sensors, the challenges of integrating them into modern applications, approaches to miniaturizing the technology for practical use, and their potential future adoption in areas such as creature design, autonomous transportation, defense, and aerospace. As a result of the comprehensive content included in this chapter, readers will gain a sufficient appreciation of the scientific principles upon which quantum sensors are anchored, as well as technology’s capability and versatility in enabling accurate navigation and positioning.
Quantum networks are a rapidly evolving technology that utilizes the principles of quantum mechanics to facilitate secure communication, distributed quantum computing, and highly sensitive sensor networks. Quantum networks are constructed using diverse components, such as quantum information sources, quantum memories, quantum repeaters, and quantum detectors. These networks leverage the distinctive features of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement, to attain superior performance benefits. Despite the numerous challenges that impede the development of quantum networks, such as the requirement for more efficient and dependable components, considerable advancements have been achieved in recent years through the utilization of simulations and experimental platforms. With the growing need for enhanced security and faster computing, the potential for quantum networks appears promising in the future. The potential of these innovations to revolutionize various fields and facilitate novel breakthroughs and discoveries is noteworthy. In this paper, we review the current state of the art in quantum networks, including key concepts and technologies such as quantum key distribution, quantum repeaters, and quantum routing. We also discuss some of the key challenges in quantum networks, including scalability, noise, and interoperability, and highlight some of the key research directions in this field. Finally, we discuss some of the potential applications of quantum networks, including secure communication, quantum computing, and quantum sensing. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and future directions of quantum networks and will be of interest to researchers, engineers, and policymakers working in this field.
Quantum networks are a rapidly evolving technology that utilizes the principles of quantum mechanics to facilitate secure communication, distributed quantum computing, and highly sensitive sensor networks. Quantum networks are constructed using diverse components, such as quantum information sources, quantum memories, quantum repeaters, and quantum detectors. These networks leverage the distinctive features of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement, to attain superior performance benefits. Despite the numerous challenges that impede the development of quantum networks, such as the requirement for more efficient and dependable components, considerable advancements have been achieved in recent years through the utilization of simulations and experimental platforms. With the growing need for enhanced security and faster computing, the potential for quantum networks appears promising in the future. The potential of these innovations to revolutionize various fields and facilitate novel breakthroughs and discoveries is noteworthy. In this paper, we review the current state of the art in quantum networks, including key concepts and technologies such as quantum key distribution, quantum repeaters, and quantum routing. We also discuss some of the key challenges in quantum networks, including scalability, noise, and interoperability, and highlight some of the key research directions in this field. Finally, we discuss some of the potential applications of quantum networks, including secure communication, quantum computing, and quantum sensing. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and future directions of quantum networks and will be of interest to researchers, engineers, and policymakers working in this field.