A group of industry and research members steered by TMD Technologies Division of Communications & Power Industries (CPI) has been granted more than £4 Million by Innovate. Innovate is UK's SBRI Quantum-enabled positioning, navigation and timing systems competition, which issues contracts for the pre-commercial procurement of innovative solutions, enabled by quantum technologies, to public sector challenges. This contract enables CPI TMD Technologies and its partners to develop exceptionally high-precision quantum-enabled positioning, navigation and timing systems that can be used to identify an object's exact position in time and space without the use of satellite signals.
This "quantum inertial sensor" will be based on CPI TMD Technologies' existing quantum technology, including the compact grating magneto-optical trap (gMOT) subsystems and Calcium Ion Frequency Source (CIFS) clock, which provides unprecedented precision and accuracy in timekeeping. Unlike the global positioning system (GPS), which relies on the transmission and receipt of external signals, these quantum systems provide timing and positioning data through internal synchronization. This allows the systems to calculate accurate time and positioning data through dead reckoning, rather than by depending on satellite signals. As a result, the inertial guidance system is useful in locations and situations where satellite signals are impractical, such as underground transit systems, and for defense and military end uses.
"As a manufacturer of microwave technologies, CPI TMD Technologies has long focused on finding innovative solutions to challenging requirements in the defense, communications, and industrial markets and putting them into production. For the past several years, we have turned that focus on helping move the promise of quantum technology from theoretical lab work to practical technology and products that can address real-world challenges. We are excited by the progress being made on cutting-edge quantum technology in conjunction with our business and university partners. The work that this team is poised to do on compact, high-precision inertial guidance systems will help revolutionize the use and accuracy of positioning systems in situations where the use of satellite signals is not ideal," said Dave Brown, president of CPI TMD Technologies Division.
CPI TMD Technologies' partners on this project include Alter Technology UK Ltd., Chronos Technology Ltd., Covesion Ltd., Fraunhofer UK Research Ltd., Imperial College London, NLA International Ltd., RedWave Labs Ltd. and University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. CPI TMD Technologies' work on this multi-year contract will be carried out at its facilities in Hayes, Middlesex, England.
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