Canadian company SBQuantum, in partnership with Spire Global, has been selected to participate in the final phase of the MagQuest Challenge. The challenge aims to find more accurate ways to map Earth’s magnetic field, which is crucial for navigation. SBQuantum’s diamond-powered quantum magnetometer, which provides vector measurements of the magnetic field, will be tested in space. The company’s technology uses quantum properties to reduce inaccuracies in readings and is expected to provide stable and accurate readings for over 10 times longer than current sensors.
SBQuantum’s Quantum Magnetometer to be Tested in Space
This competition, led by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, aims to find more accurate and efficient methods to map the Earth’s electromagnetic field, also known as the World Magnetic Model (WMM). The WMM is crucial for navigation purposes and is used daily by aircraft, ships, cars, trucks, and billions of smartphone users. However, due to accelerating shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field, the WMM needs to be monitored more closely and updated more frequently to ensure its accuracy.
SBQuantum’s magnetometers are capable of providing vector measurements of both the amplitude and the orientation of Earth’s magnetic field. The company’s participation in the MagQuest Challenge is seen as a validation of their years of work in developing their diamond-powered quantum magnetometer and compensation algorithms. The final phase of the competition, which includes testing the remaining solutions, will provide an opportunity to demonstrate the potential of quantum-enabled sensors for various industries, including aerospace.
The MagQuest Challenge and its Importance
The MagQuest Challenge is a multi-million dollar competition that seeks to improve the mapping of the Earth’s electromagnetic field. This is crucial as shifts in the Earth’s magnetic field continue to accelerate, necessitating more frequent updates to the World Magnetic Model (WMM) to ensure its accuracy. The WMM is relied upon daily for navigational purposes by a wide range of users, from aircraft and ships to cars and smartphones.
The final phase of the MagQuest Challenge, which resumes this month, will involve testing the three remaining solutions. SBQuantum’s offering combines its diamond-powered quantum magnetometer with a suite of reference sensors to train a machine learning algorithm, which compensates for magnetic field interference. This solution is designed to provide more accurate measurements of the WMM, with increased frequency than existing spaceborne applications.
SBQuantum’s Quantum Magnetometer and its Potential
SBQuantum’s diamond quantum magnetometer utilises quantum properties to reduce drifts, such as those induced by temperature constraints, which can distort readings from today’s classical technologies. The diamond crystal contains four sensing axes in a very small volume at the atomic scale, and the amplitude and direction of its magnetic field measurements provide high accuracy with no blind spots.
The device’s use of quantum effects also provides a greater accuracy than existing technologies. By applying a green laser and microwaves to the diamond, a red glow is generated which translates directly to the magnetic field vector measurements at the basis of the WMM. Pre-test analysis indicates that the SBQuantum magnetometer will potentially provide stable and accurate readings for the WMM in excess of 10-times longer than today’s sensors.
The Final Phase of the MagQuest Challenge
The final phase of the MagQuest Challenge will commence from September 2023, with a launch of all the finalists’ solutions into space for testing purposes, planned for mid-2025. This will provide an opportunity for SBQuantum to demonstrate the capabilities of its diamond quantum magnetometer in a space environment.
SBQuantum is a company based in Sherbrooke, Canada, specialising in the production of advanced hardware in the field of quantum sensing. The company combines this with advanced interpretation and compensation algorithms to enhance magnetic capabilities. SBQuantum has received significant non-dilutive financing to help advance its mission to bring to market advanced sensors leveraging quantum effects. Its quantum magnetometer has already been tested at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as part of NASA Tournament Lab. The company also plans to bring its miniaturised sensors to unmanned vehicles and a range of other deployment scenarios.
“It is an honor for us to be invited to participate in the final phase of this prestigious competition. We see this as a validation of our years of unwavering work in developing our diamond-powered quantum magnetometer and compensation algorithms,” said David Roy-Guay, CEO and Co-Founder of SBQuantum. “Testing the instrument in space represents a fantastic opportunity to show the entire industry what we have built, and to highlight the tremendous potential of quantum-enabled sensors not only for aerospace, but for various other industry verticals as well.”
“The MagQuest challenge is a prime example of how satellite technology plays a crucial role in powering technology and systems that each and every one of us use on a near-daily basis,” said Chuck Cash, Vice President of Federal Sales at Spire. “We’re proud to leverage Spire’s expertise in satellite technology and existing infrastructure for manufacturing, ground stations, and data processing with SBQuantum’s magnetometer technology to provide a novel and more accurate solution to collect geomagnetic data.”
Quick Summary
SBQuantum, a Canadian company, has been selected to participate in the final phase of the MagQuest Challenge, a competition led by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to find more accurate ways to map Earth’s magnetic field. The company’s diamond quantum magnetometer, which uses quantum properties to provide highly accurate measurements of the magnetic field, will be tested in space, potentially offering a solution to the increasing shifts in Earth’s magnetic field that affect navigation systems.
- Canadian company SBQuantum, in partnership with Spire Global, has been selected to participate in the final phase of the MagQuest Challenge, a competition led by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
- The challenge aims to find more accurate and efficient ways to map the Earth’s electromagnetic field, also known as the World Magnetic Model (WMM), which is crucial for navigation purposes.
- SBQuantum is developing diamond quantum magnetometers that can provide vector measurements of both the amplitude and the orientation of Earth’s magnetic field.
- The company’s solution combines its diamond-powered quantum magnetometer with a suite of reference sensors to train a machine learning algorithm, which compensates for magnetic field interference.
- The SBQuantum magnetometer is expected to provide stable and accurate readings for the WMM for a duration 10 times longer than current sensors.
- The final phase of the MagQuest Challenge begins in September 2023, with a launch of all the finalists’ solutions into space for testing purposes, planned for mid-2025.
- SBQuantum’s CEO and Co-Founder is David Roy-Guay, and Chuck Cash is the Vice President of Federal Sales at Spire.
