It's astonishing to consider that within our lifetimes, we've witnessed the remarkable impact of GPS on our daily lives. As a child, navigating the North of Scotland on holiday meant relying solely on paper maps and road signs for my parents.
Today, GPS integrated into our family car, phones, iPads, and laptops provides precise location data at any moment. Mapping apps guide us to any destination, allow me to monitor my family's whereabouts via their phone locations, and track delivery drivers in real-time, offering peace of mind and convenience.
However, GPS has its limitations, failing under obscured skies and vulnerable to solar flares and electromagnetic storms. This is where Imperial College London's research enters the picture. They are developing a Quantum Compass that operates independently of external signals to pinpoint exact locations. Although it performs well in the lab, its reliability outdoors is still being refined, with the London Underground presenting an ideal testing ground due to its varied real-world conditions.
The anticipation for the next wave of location technology is palpable. It poses the question: will it become as integral to our lives as GPS?
The idea of a quantum compass is to bypass or augment current methods for pinpointing the locations of planes, cars and other objects. These usually rely on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) – such as GPS – which have become crucial in the transport of goods and services by road, sea and air. By using external signals, these systems can precisely fix the positions of vehicles.
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