LONDON, August 08, 2024 -- Infleqtion UK is delighted to announce the successful completion of the first phase of its Quantum Enhanced Inertial Navigation Systems (Q-NAV) project awarded by Innovate UK, culminating in its Quantum Navigation Industry Day on 27 June.

Held at the Institute of Physics (IOP) in London, the Industry Day provided a valuable opportunity for Infleqtion, its project partners, government officials, and industry stakeholders from 20 organisations to assess the latest advancements in quantum technologies for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Attendees explored the progress made by the Q-NAV team and engaged in critical discussions about the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of this sector.

Dr Tim Ballance, President of Infleqtion UK, articulated our vision: “At Infleqtion, we are resolute in addressing the vulnerabilities of current navigation systems, particularly in environments where GNSS is compromised. Our collaboration with QinetiQ and the Royal Navy epitomises our mission to deploy cutting-edge quantum solutions to enhance both military and civilian navigation.”

Building on the recent world-first flight demonstration of our ultra-cold matter platform for quantum Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), Q-NAV will develop a Quantum-Enhanced Inertial Navigation System (Q-INS) to address the limitations of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). While GNSS is widely used globally, its vulnerability to spoofing and jamming attacks, as seen in recent conflicts, poses a significant risk.

Lieutenant Colonel Scott Wallace RM, of the Royal Navy Office of the Chief Technology Officer, said: “Partnerships and collaboration between industry and end-users are key to accelerating Quantum Technologies into mature and useable capabilities. While there is still a lot of hard work to be done, the early successes OCTO and Infleqtion are enjoying are indicative of the art of the possible when stakeholders share a common vision for innovation.”

The Q-NAV project embodies our vision of revolutionising navigation technology by tackling the core challenges associated with current INS limitations. Our mission is to deliver a robust, continuous beam atom inertial sensor that leverages our industry leadership in cold atom quantum technology. The continuous measurement approach we are developing offers significant advantages over existing quantum inertial sensors by eliminating the dead time between samples, thereby unlocking substantial gains in bandwidth and dynamic range.

Infleqtion's commitment to the Q-NAV project is a testament to our unwavering dedication to advancing the sector. We believe that by pushing the boundaries of what is possible with quantum technology, we can create navigation solutions that meet and exceed the demands of military and civilian applications. Our collaboration with leading partners and stakeholders underscores our resolve to lead the way in quantum-enhanced navigation systems, setting a new benchmark for the industry and securing a future where navigation technology is more accurate, reliable, and resilient than ever. ​