A new quantum technology hub has been launched in the UK to protect the country’s critical infrastructure and national security from disruptions to global positioning signals. The UK Hub for Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation & Timing (QEPNT) will develop high-performance, low-size, and low-cost quantum technologies to address the challenges posed by interference or malicious actions on GPS signals.
Led by the University of Glasgow, the hub involves six researchers from the University of Strathclyde, including Professor Jennifer Hastie, Deputy Principal Investigator in QEPNT. The hub aims to create sovereign, UK-based solutions for position, navigation, and timing, which are crucial for national security and resilience.
Researchers will develop atomic clocks, LiDAR, and inertial and magnetic sensors using lasers and cold atoms to measure range, time, acceleration, rotation, and position. This technology could improve navigation systems in sectors such as roads, railways, and underground transport and improve indoor navigation on mobile devices.
Ensuring National Security and Critical Infrastructure with Quantum Technology
The launch of the UK Hub for Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation & Timing (QEPNT) marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to develop resilient position, navigation, and timing advancements. The University of Strathclyde is one of the partners in this hub, with six researchers actively contributing to its mission. The QEPNT Hub aims to address the challenges posed by the vulnerability of global positioning (GPS) satellites to interference or deliberate malicious actions like signal jamming.
The importance of accurate and reliable position, navigation, and timing cannot be overstated, particularly for critical sectors and industries such as energy, finance, communications, and transport. A 2023 report from the UK Space Agency and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology predicted that a total GPS outage would cause an estimated economic loss of £1.4 billion pounds per day to the UK economy. The QEPNT Hub seeks to mitigate this risk by creating high-performance, low-size, and low-cost quantum technologies.
Professor Jennifer Hastie, Director of Strathclyde’s Institute of Photonics and Deputy Principal Investigator in QEPNT, emphasized that the hub will focus on developing technologies for national security and resilience. The goal is to create sovereign, UK-based solutions that can ensure the reliability and accuracy of position, navigation, and timing systems.
Developing Next-Generation Quantum Technologies
The QEPNT Hub is not only focused on research but also on delivering an ecosystem for industry, stakeholders, and end-users. A key objective is to develop the next generation of leaders in UK quantum technology. To achieve this, researchers in the hub will focus on developing atomic clocks, LiDAR, and inertial and magnetic sensors. These devices use lasers and cold atoms to measure range, time, acceleration, rotation, and position.
The development of smaller, lighter quantum-enabled devices is expected to significantly impact various sectors, including roads, railways, and underground transport. These devices could help improve navigation systems by replacing current GPS positioning technologies. Moreover, new technology developed by the hub could enable improved indoor navigation on mobile devices and upgrade submarine positioning systems, allowing them to operate for months without surfacing to reconnect with satellites.
Unlocking New Capabilities in Quantum Technology
Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director of Cross-Council Programmes at EPSRC and Chair of the National Quantum Technologies Programme, highlighted the strategic importance of quantum technology research to the UK. Improving the resilience of position, navigation, and time-dependent services is vital for critical infrastructure and security.
The QEPNT Hub brings together a team of experts from various institutions, including Strathclyde’s Department of Physics. Professor Paul Griffin, Professor Erling Riis, Dr James McGilligan, Dr Aidan Arnold, and Dr Stuart Ingleby are all investigators with the hub. Professor Griffin is leading the effort on optical atomic clocks.
Investment in Quantum Technology Hubs
The QEPNT Hub is one of five quantum hubs launched by UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with a £106 million investment from EPSRC, the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UKRI Medical Research Council (MRC), and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Strathclyde is also a partner in three of the other hubs: QuSIT (UK Quantum Technology Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing); IQN (Integrated Quantum Networks Quantum Technology Research Hub), and QCI3, Hub for Quantum Computing via Integrated and Interconnected Implementations.
This significant investment in quantum technology research reflects the UK’s commitment to developing innovative solutions that can address critical challenges in national security, critical infrastructure, and various industries. The QEPNT Hub is poised to play a vital role in this effort, driving forward the development of next-generation quantum technologies that can ensure the reliability and accuracy of position, navigation, and timing systems.
External Link: Click Here For More
