Abstract This chapter provides an overview of quantum sensing, imaging, and position, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies. It explains their significance in enhancing measurement precision and resilience. The chapter discusses initial deployment of quantum technologies in these areas with applications in climate change, healthcare diagnostics, defence systems, space exploration, and transportation. It highlights the opportunities as well as challenges in integrating these quantum applications with existing technology architectures, including interoperability, scalability, and cost considerations. Case examples illustrate how quantum systems can operate in environments where classical technologies face limitations. The chapter also discusses the possible business and economic implications of quantum sensing, imaging, and PNT and identifies research questions for further exploration.
Abstract This chapter provides an overview of quantum sensing, imaging, and position, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies. It explains their significance in enhancing measurement precision and resilience. The chapter discusses initial deployment of quantum technologies in these areas with applications in climate change, healthcare diagnostics, defence systems, space exploration, and transportation. It highlights the opportunities as well as challenges in integrating these quantum applications with existing technology architectures, including interoperability, scalability, and cost considerations. Case examples illustrate how quantum systems can operate in environments where classical technologies face limitations. The chapter also discusses the possible business and economic implications of quantum sensing, imaging, and PNT and identifies research questions for further exploration.
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.
Quantum technologies harness the fundamental principles and features of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, no-cloning, entanglement, and quantum tunneling, to deliver transformative advancements in areas including secure communications, PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing), sensing, and computing. Potential defense applications of quantum technologies include secure command and control channels resistant to interception, GPS-independent navigation systems, and quantum-enhanced radar capable of detecting stealth objects. However, quantum systems also bring new challenges and potential vulnerabilities, which are particularly relevant in the defense domain, where operational reliability and security are of paramount importance. We discuss insights into the opportunities and limitations of quantum technologies in the defense sector, as identified by the NATO STO IST-219 Research Task Group on Quantum Technology Vulnerabilities. We also present initial findings regarding identified security challenges and validation methodology.
Quantum sensing represents a transformative advancement in autonomous vehicle technology, which leverages the principles of quantum mechanics for enhanced measurement precision transcending classical limits. This chapter explores the promise of quantum sensing and the role of quantum entanglement and superposition on navigational applications. Quantum sensors, offer unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, enabling vehicles to operate more safely and efficiently in complex and dynamic environments. These sensors can detect minute variations in their surroundings with high accuracy, by harnessing quantum entanglement and superposition. This chapter also discusses the challenges and prospects of quantum sensing in automotive applications, including issues related to technology scalability, integration with existing systems, and regulatory considerations. A detailed examination of current research and practical implementations is provided in this chapter, which aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how quantum sensing is poised to revolutionize autonomous vehicle technology.
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.
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.
Quantum optical sensing is a technique that utilizes quantum mechanics to enhance, sensitivity and precision to a level considered unparalleled so far. This chapter attempts to introduce the reader to the basics of this fast-growing field along with various technologies and applications. It begins with an explanation of quantum mechanics, superposition, entanglement, and quantum coherence that allow sensors to go beyond classical performance. One of the central technologies is quantum entanglement – the phenomenon whereby several particles become instantaneous spouses and are measured with utmost precision, for instance, distance, time, and magnetic fields. Entanglement Interferometry is entanglement applied in the detection of gravitational waves and high-resolution imaging. Squeezed light, the other area of interest, is a method that removes some of the fluctuations in one parameter of light, to increase the interferometer sensor, to measure small movements and low-frequency gravitational waves. Single photon emitting devices and detectors enable high-sensitivity measurements in applications such as bioimaging and quantum-securing communication. The chapter also illustrates the usage of this technology in practice in healthcare, environment, and navigation, like the examination of biomarkers and pollutants. Last is the discussion of issues such as quantum coherence and issues of scalability and development of QTs, as well as the proposed further development and more potential advances for QTs as a medium for mass use.