Q-CTRL has partnered with Australia’s Department of Defence to develop quantum sensors for GPS-free navigation. The technology will accurately position military vehicles over extended periods, even when GPS is unavailable or unreliable. This could revolutionise air, space, underground, and underwater defence operations. The technology uses quantum physics to detect motion and changes in Earth’s gravitational field. Q-CTRL’s CEO, Prof. Michael J. Biercuk, highlighted the potential of quantum control to unlock new quantum technology applications. The company’s quantum sensing division, led by Dr Russell Anderson, was established in 2022.
Quantum Sensors for GPS-Free Navigation
Q-CTRL has announced a partnership with Australia’s Department of Defence to develop quantum sensors. These sensors will provide quantum-assured navigation capability for military platforms. The technology will allow vehicles to position accurately over long periods when GPS is unavailable or untrustworthy. This opens new possibilities for air, space, underground, and underwater defence operations, enabling long-endurance missions and securing positioning against jamming or spoofing by hostile adversaries.
The reliance on GPS for civilian and military navigation has become a critical vulnerability for governments and private sector organisations worldwide. Limited access to or outright denial of GPS signals can cause estimated economic losses of over $1 billion per day in the US alone. Existing alternatives to GPS deliver limited benefits, suffering from rapidly accumulating errors that can pose tremendous risks to defence missions.
Quantum Technology and Navigation
Q-CTRL’s technology uses the quantum physics of atoms to detect motion and small changes in the Earth’s gravitational field. These signals are used to enable navigation over extended periods. Quantum sensors provide very reliable outputs because their signals are derived from the fundamental laws of physics, unlike existing mechanical or electrical systems that degrade over time or under different operating conditions.
The application of this technology to real defence platforms is made possible by both proprietary hardware design and software ruggedization. This boosts performance in the field by hundreds of times. Q-CTRL has been a pioneer in applying AI-enhanced infrastructure software to improve the operation of quantum hardware. They have demonstrated that they can ruggedize quantum sensors entirely in software to maintain advantages even in challenging field environments, such as moving platforms subject to strong vibrations.
Q-CTRL’s Role in Quantum Technology
Q-CTRL has been a key player in the development of quantum technology. The company’s CEO and Founder, Prof. Michael J. Biercuk, stated that their specialized expertise in quantum control could unlock new quantum technology applications. They have shown that they can boost the performance of quantum computers and quantum sensors by orders of magnitude – entirely through software.
“From day one we knew that our specialized expertise in quantum control could unlock totally new applications of quantum technology,”
Q-CTRL CEO and Founder Prof. Michael J. Biercuk.
The company, led by Dr Russell Anderson, announced its quantum sensing division in 2022. The team has previously worked with partners, including Advanced Navigation and the Australian Army to demonstrate and deliver this technology for applications, including remote drone detection. The company’s newest contract supports the first multi-year effort to field-deploy and validate miniaturized systems on defence platforms.
International Partnerships and Quantum Technology
This partnership represents one of the first international collaborations between the government and the private sector to apply quantum technology in natural defence settings. Q-CTRL’s recent expansion to the US and UK directly supports delivering the team’s unique capabilities to Australia’s closest technology-sharing partners.
Q-CTRL operates a globally recognised quantum sensing division focused on software-level innovation for strategic capability. This capability is underpinned by Q-CTRL’s quantum control infrastructure software for R&D professionals and quantum computing end users. The company has been an inaugural member of the IBM Quantum Startup network since 2018 and recently announced that Q-CTRL’s performance management software would run natively on IBM quantum computers. The company has international headquarters in Sydney, Los Angeles, Berlin, and London.
“We’ve shown we can boost the performance of quantum computers and quantum sensors by orders of magnitude – entirely through software. Now we’re pleased to be applying these capabilities to a critical defense mission for Australia.”
Q-CTRL CEO and Founder Prof. Michael J. Biercuk.
Interim Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, Professor Emily Hilder, said the collaboration with Q-CTRL was significant for delivering quantum-enhanced navigation. “Defence recognises that quantum sensing has the potential to transform Defence capability fundamentally. Partnerships of this kind demonstrate our capacity to translate innovative concepts into capability, delivered by a world-class Australian deep-tech company.”
Quick Summary
Q-CTRL, a global leader in quantum technology, has partnered with Australia’s Department of Defence to develop quantum sensors for GPS-free navigation in military operations. The technology uses quantum physics to detect motion and changes in Earth’s gravitational field, providing accurate positioning over extended periods and securing against jamming or spoofing by adversaries.
- Q-CTRL, a global leader in quantum technology, has partnered with Australia’s Department of Defence to develop quantum sensors for military navigation.
- The technology will provide quantum-enhanced positioning and navigation, particularly useful when GPS is unavailable or unreliable. This is crucial as reliance on GPS has become vulnerable for governments and organisations worldwide.
- Unlike existing alternatives to GPS, which can accumulate errors, Q-CTRL’s technology uses quantum physics to detect motion and changes in the Earth’s gravitational field, providing reliable navigation over extended periods.
- The technology is made possible by combining proprietary hardware design and software-ruggedization, which boosts performance in the field by hundreds of times.
- Q-CTRL’s CEO and Founder, Prof. Michael J. Biercuk, highlighted the company’s ability to improve the performance of quantum computers and sensors through software.
- The company’s quantum sensing division, led by Dr Russell Anderson, was established in 2022 and has previously worked with partners, including Advanced Navigation and the Australian Army.
- The partnership represents one of the first international collaborations between the government and the private sector to apply quantum technology in real defence settings.
- Q-CTRL was founded by Michael J. Biercuk in 2017 and is a product-focused software company in the quantum sector.
