Source URL: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/07/16/1348259/the-secret-to-better-airplane-navigation-could-be-inside-the-earths-crust?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
Source: Slashdot
Title: The Secret To Better Airplane Navigation Could Be Inside the Earth’s Crust
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AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: Airbus’s Acubed and SandboxAQ have developed a groundbreaking quantum-sensing navigation device, MagNav, that offers an AI-driven alternative to GPS. This innovation not only meets FAA requirements for accuracy but also provides a tamper-proof solution in light of increasing GPS vulnerabilities.
Detailed Description: The collaboration between Airbus’s innovation center Acubed and SandboxAQ has yielded a significant leap in navigation technology through their development of the MagNav device. This technology utilizes quantum physics to offer a revolutionary alternative to traditional GPS systems. Key highlights of the project include:
– **Quantum Sensing**: The MagNav device employs quantum physics to measure the unique magnetic signatures present in the Earth’s crust, allowing for precise location identification.
– **AI Integration**: An AI algorithm is used to match the measured magnetic signatures to specific locations, enhancing the device’s reliability and accuracy.
– **Testing and Accuracy**: The MagNav has undergone 150 hours of flight tests across the continental United States, demonstrating its capability to meet FAA accuracy standards. It was able to pinpoint aircraft locations within two nautical miles 100% of the time, and within 550 meters 64% of the time.
– **Tamper-Resistant**: Unlike GPS, which is susceptible to jamming and spoofing, especially in conflict zones, this analog system offers enhanced security against such threats. This feature addresses growing concerns about GPS vulnerabilities, particularly highlighted by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine.
– **Innovative Milestone**: The CEO of SandboxAQ, Jack Hidary, emphasized the significance of the MagNav as “the first novel absolute navigation system to our knowledge in the last 50 years,” showcasing its innovation in the field.
The relevance of this development to professionals in AI, cloud, and infrastructure security is profound. As reliance on GPS increases, the potential vulnerabilities associated with it necessitate alternative solutions. Furthermore, integrating AI into navigation systems exemplifies how advancements in quantum technology and machine learning can create secure and reliable alternatives, laying the groundwork for future innovations in navigation and location services.