Position, navigation, and time (PNT) distributed by the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) have become one of the most relied upon commodities of our civilization. GNSS relies on clocks on satellite, the timing signal of which is send to Earth. On ground both, the resulting position and the timing signal are used in various different cases on ground. We are reliant on the quality of the timing signal. Quantum technologies offer novel methods of probing atoms or molecules to generate timing signals of higher quality. Additionally, optical cavities or resonators can provide precise timing signals. The main challenge involved with optical resonators is the long term stability in compatibility with the SWaP requirements of space. There are several works to prolong the stability of these systems and improve the quality of the received signal. Regardless of the quality of the GNSS signal, it is subject to manipulation, such as jamming and spoofing. Additionally, areas of absence of GNSS exist, which need to be breached. In these cases (classical) inertial measurement units can be deployed. However, the inherent drift of these systems allow GNSS-free navigation for short periods.
Position, navigation, and time (PNT) distributed by the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) have become one of the most relied upon commodities of our civilization. GNSS relies on clocks on satellite, the timing signal of which is send to Earth. On ground both, the resulting position and the timing signal are used in various different cases on ground. We are reliant on the quality of the timing signal. Quantum technologies offer novel methods of probing atoms or molecules to generate timing signals of higher quality. Additionally, optical cavities or resonators can provide precise timing signals. The main challenge involved with optical resonators is the long term stability in compatibility with the SWaP requirements of space. There are several works to prolong the stability of these systems and improve the quality of the received signal. Regardless of the quality of the GNSS signal, it is subject to manipulation, such as jamming and spoofing. Additionally, areas of absence of GNSS exist, which need to be breached. In these cases (classical) inertial measurement units can be deployed. However, the inherent drift of these systems allow GNSS-free navigation for short periods.
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.
Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are critical to our daily lives and underpin numerous sectors in-cluding transport, finance, and defence. The estimated financial impact of GNSS failure for the UK is over £1 bn per day [1]. In areas where GNSS cannot be used, inertial navigation provides an alternative to accurately position vehicles. For many applications, the drift in the classical accelerometers and gyroscopes that underpin inertial navigation systems limits the position accuracy that can be achieved.
The growing reliance on Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies across critical sectors such as defense, aerospace, and autonomous systems highlights the need for navigation solutions that are robust against signal loss, spoofing, and jamming. Quantum-based navigation systems offer a promising alternative, leveraging the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to achieve unprecedented precision and resilience. This paper provides an overview of the core quantum technologies enabling this next generation of navigation, including atomic interferometry, quantum accelerometers, gyroscopes, and ultra-precise quantum clocks. Cold atom techniques and laser cooling play pivotal roles in enhancing measurement stability and accuracy. The integration of these technologies into inertial navigation systems (INS) significantly reduces drift and extends operational reliability in GPS-denied environments. Quantum navigation technologies are finding applications across a wide range of domains, including military defense, underwater missions, space travel, and autonomous transportation. Despite existing obstacles such as high development costs, environmental sensitivity, and the need for further miniaturization, progress in quantum sensor development and engineering continues at a steady pace. This article presents an overview of the fundamental concepts, present capabilities, and prospective advancements in quantum navigation. It also highlights the technology's promise as a viable alternative or even a possible replacement for conventional GPS systems.
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-
The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides uninterrupted position and timing data across the globe with a precision of up to 40 ns, but is insufficient for advanced applications such as quantum communication, and is susceptible to jamming and spoofing attacks. This article introduces a protocol for synchronizing clocks using a constellation of satellites that relies on the exchange of entangled photons. Simulation shows that 50 low-Earth-orbit satellites bearing off-the-shelf atomic clocks can distribute time globally with a precision that is 2 to 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of GPS. Additionally, the use of entangled photons provides an extra layer of quantum security.