Quantum software startup SandboxAQ has launched AQNav, a navigation system that leverages AI algorithms, quantum sensors, and the Earth's magnetic field to provide real-time navigation when global positioning system (GPS) signals are unavailable, denied, or spoofed.

AQNav uses quantum magnetometers to acquire data from the Earth's crustal magnetic field, which has unique geographical patterns, and AI algorithms to compare this data against known magnetic maps, enabling accurate position tracking. So far, AQNav has recorded over 200 flight hours and more than 40 sorties worldwide, utilizing four different aircraft types.

According to SandboxAQ, AQNav offers an unjammable, all-weather, terrain-agnostic navigation solution, improving navigational accuracy and safety for various applications, including commercial and military aviation, autonomous vehicles, and underwater operations where GPS signals cannot reach.

Analyst QuickTake: Quantum technology holds the potential to revolutionize flight navigation by addressing the inherent limitations of GPS systems that rely on satellite signals that can be disrupted or blocked by various factors such as weather, terrain, or malicious interference. Just last month , UK-based quantum company Infleqtion concluded the first-ever trial of quantum-based navigation systems in commercial flights to enhance existing positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems.