Stuttgart-based quantum technology company Q.ANT has developed a quantum magnetic field sensor that can measure electrical currents via their magnetic field more precisely than before. This technology could revolutionize industries by allowing intuitive access to biosignals, controlling prostheses via muscle signals, and improving sensor technology in medical technology. The sensor, small enough for everyday use, can measure the smallest magnetic fields in the picotesla range, even detecting human muscle signals in nerve tracts. Q.ANT CEO Dr. Michael Förtsch believes this technology could lead to machines and devices being controlled by thoughts.
Quantum Magnetic Field Sensor: A New Era in Human-Machine Interface
The Stuttgart-based quantum technology company, Q.ANT, has developed a magnetic field sensor that could potentially revolutionize the interface between humans and machines. This sensor can measure the finest electrical currents via their magnetic field with unprecedented ease and precision. This development paves the way for the first-ever native and intuitive access to biosignals. The sensor, small enough for everyday use, can control prostheses via muscle signals, potentially elevating sensor technology in medical technology to a new level.
Quantum Sensing: A Catalyst for Industrial Progress
Quantum sensing, along with quantum computing, is seen as a catalyst for industrial progress. Q.ANT is actively involved in the development of both areas, pushing their development activities until they are ready for industrial application. The magnetic field sensor is one such example. The sensor can be used in various industries, including medical technology, electronics, and automotive. It can measure the finest electrical currents and the resulting magnetic fields, potentially leading to a rethinking in many industries. The applications range from quality assurance of hard drives to identifying leakage currents in power chips or batteries; even machines and devices could eventually be controlled by thoughts.
The Q.ANT Magnetic Field Sensor: Small, Precise, and Suitable for Everyday Use
The magnetic field sensor from Q.ANT is unique in its extremely high sensitivity despite its compact size. It enables the measurement of the smallest magnetic fields in the picotesla range, which corresponds to a millionth of the Earth’s magnetic field – under everyday conditions. Other technical solutions only achieve a comparable sensitivity range in special laboratory environments and by cooling the sensors to absolute zero (-273 °C) or by heating them to 150 °C. The Q.ANT magnetic field sensor, on the other hand, is sensitive enough to even detect human muscle signals in nerve tracts.
Application in Medical Technology and Prosthetics
The combination of sensitivity, minimal size, and operation at room temperature without direct physical contact makes the sensor ready for everyday use. When controlling prostheses, magnetic signals work more precisely and reliably than electrical ones, which can be disrupted by sweat or hair on the skin. The new technology could potentially improve prosthetic care for people with arm or leg amputations, improving their quality of life and contributing to better social integration. The sensor could also be used in rehabilitation to control muscle training or in the diagnosis of muscle dysfunction. This could be used to detect neuronal disorders or improve the diagnosis of paraplegia. Exoskeletons can also be controlled intuitively and contribute to occupational safety. For telemedicine, it would even be conceivable to use it to control avatars in the metaverse in the future.
About Q.ANT
Q.ANT is a high-tech start-up founded in 2018 as a spin-off from TRUMPF. The company is advancing and industrializing photonic quantum technologies, thereby pushing the boundaries to new fields of application and processes. Q.ANT is developing quantum sensors and photonic processors. With its four product lines Photonic Computing, Particle Metrology, Atomic Gyroscopes, and Magnetic Sensing, Q.ANT is a partner for a wide variety of industries and fields of application, ranging from medical technology and autonomous driving to aerospace, mechanical engineering, and process technology. Q.ANT employs around 100 people at the Stuttgart location.
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