much better than you A constellation of satellites overhead is constantly working to provide the positioning, navigation, and timing systems that quietly run modern life. Signals from these satellites, known as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), provide the basis for mobile networks, energy grids, the Internet, and GPS. And its credibility is increasingly under threat.
GPS signals can be intentionally jammed by other strong radio signals or spoofed by emitting false signals to fool positioning systems. GPS interference is described in the following document: ukraine, middle east,and South China Sea.
But startup SandboxAQ believes these threats to GNSS can be mitigated by combining artificial intelligence with a navigation system that reads the Earth’s magnetic field, known as MagNav. “Our technology cannot be replaced. [GNSS]However, it can enhance existing navigation systems to improve safety and serve as an alternative primary navigation source in the event of a GPS outage,” said General Manager Luca Ferrara. Navigation Department of SandboxAQ.
SandboxAQ’s navigation technology (called AQNav) uses a quantum magnetometer, a device that can detect changes in the magnetic field with great accuracy by measuring subatomic particles, to generate readings of the Earth’s magnetic field. “We’re looking for unique fingerprints in magnetized rock layers in the Earth’s crust,” Ferrara says.
Artificial intelligence is then used to pinpoint the aircraft’s location by comparing it to a map of known magnetic fields. AI also eliminates external interference generated by the aircraft, such as sudden movements or signals from electrical systems. Each individual aircraft has its own characteristics when it comes to generating magnetic interference.
So far, the US Air Force, Boeing and Airbus have everyone did a test flight using the system. “Since May 2023, we have deployed and tested our hardware and software multiple times,” Ferrara explains. “AQNav has flown hundreds of kilometers in a variety of aircraft types, from single-engine aircraft to large military transport aircraft. It has been tested in real-world flight scenarios, including two large-scale military exercises by the U.S. Air Force. .”
The inspiration for the SandboxAQ team and its idea was born at Alphabet, Google’s parent company, from 2016 to 2022. The initial idea was to find applications for artificial intelligence and quantum technologies developed within Google’s Moonshot factory.
