#Quantum accelerometer
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Quantum accelerometer could allow navigation without relying on satellites
New Post has been published on https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/quantum-accelerometer-could-allow-navigation-without-relying-on-satellites/
Quantum accelerometer could allow navigation without relying on satellites

A UK team from Imperial College London and M Squared has demonstrated a transportable, standalone quantum accelerometer at the National Quantum Technologies Showcase, an event demonstrating the technological progress arising from the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme — a £270m UK Government investment over five years. The device represents the UK’s first commercially viable quantum accelerometer, which could be used for navigation. To find out more please visit https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/18897…
#National Quantum Technologies Showcase#Quantum accelerometer#Quantum compass#UK National Quantum Technologies Programme
0 notes
Text
Fundamental physics—let alone quantum physics—might sound complicated to many, but it can actually be applied to solve everyday problems. Imagine navigating to an unfamiliar place. Most people would suggest using GPS, but what if you were stuck in an underground tunnel where radio signals from satellites were not able to penetrate? That's where quantum sensing tools come in. USC Viterbi Information Sciences Institute researchers Jonathan Habif and Justin Brown, both from ISI's new Laboratory for Quantum-Limited Information, are working at making sensing instruments like atomic accelerometers smaller and more accurate so they can be used to navigate when GPS is down.
Continue Reading.
115 notes
·
View notes
Text
🚀 Tiny Tech, Big Impact: High-Precision MEMS Taking Aerospace to New Heights!
High-Precision MEMS for Aerospace Applications Market : Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) have revolutionized aerospace technology by offering miniaturized, high-precision, and ultra-reliable sensing and actuation solutions. From spacecraft navigation to aircraft safety, MEMS devices enhance performance, reduce weight, and improve efficiency in extreme environments.
To Request Sample Report : https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-sample/?id=GIS32696 &utm_source=SnehaPatil&utm_medium=Linkedin
How MEMS Work in Aerospace
MEMS are microscale systems integrating sensors, actuators, and electronic circuits on a single chip. These devices provide high accuracy with minimal power consumption, making them ideal for aerospace applications. Key MEMS technologies include:
✔ MEMS Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) — High-precision gyroscopes and accelerometers for flight control and navigation. ✔ MEMS Pressure Sensors — Monitor cabin pressure, altitude, and fuel efficiency in real time. ✔ MEMS Microthrusters — Miniaturized propulsion systems for satellite positioning and space exploration. ✔ MEMS RF Filters & Switches — Enhance satellite communication and radar signal processing.
Advantages of MEMS in Aerospace
📌 Lightweight & Compact — Reduces payload weight, optimizing fuel efficiency in spacecraft and aircraft. 📌 High Sensitivity & Accuracy — Ensures precise flight dynamics and stabilization in navigation systems. 📌 Rugged & Reliable — Designed to withstand extreme temperatures, radiation, and vibrations in aerospace environments. 📌 Low Power Consumption — Increases operational longevity for satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Key Aerospace Applications of MEMS
🔹 Satellite Navigation — High-precision MEMS IMUs enhance GNSS-based navigation in space. 🔹 Flight Control Systems — MEMS gyroscopes improve aircraft autopilot and stabilization. 🔹 Space Robotics — MEMS-based actuators enable precise movement in robotic arms on planetary rovers. 🔹 Hypersonic Vehicles — MEMS sensors monitor aerodynamic pressures and temperatures in real time.
Future Trends in Aerospace MEMS
🔸 Quantum MEMS Sensors — Ultra-precise navigation systems independent of GPS. 🔸 AI-Integrated MEMS — Smart MEMS for predictive maintenance and real-time diagnostics. 🔸 MEMS in CubeSats — Enabling cost-effective, lightweight space missions. 🔸 Next-Gen MEMS Thrusters — Revolutionizing deep-space propulsion for interplanetary travel.
As the aerospace industry advances towards autonomous spacecraft, supersonic aviation, and deep-space exploration, MEMS technology remains at the core of innovation. The future is miniaturized, intelligent, and space-ready!
#mems #aerospace #satellitetechnology #avionics #smartnavigation #autonomoussystems #gyroscopes #accelerometers #navigationtechnology #deeptech #satellites #spacetech #hypersonics #ai #machinelearning #robotics #aircraftsystems #engineering #spaceexploration #microtechnology #nextgen #advancedmanufacturing #aviation #nasa #deepspace #sensors #futuretech #defensetech #nanotechnology #microthrusters #smartengineering #gnss #autopilot #futureaircraft #quantumsensors #radartechnology
0 notes
Text
Nano-Electromechanical Systems (NEMS) Market Set to Skyrocket from $3.2B to $12.5B by 2034 📈
Nano-Electromechanical Systems (NEMS) Market is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by the increasing demand for ultra-small, high-performance electronic devices across industries such as healthcare, consumer electronics, automotive, and aerospace. As the successor to Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS), NEMS technology offers higher sensitivity, lower power consumption, and enhanced performance, making it a critical component in next-generation sensors, actuators, and quantum computing applications.
To Request Sample Report: https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-sample/?id=GIS10668 &utm_source=SnehaPatil&utm_medium=Article
Market Dynamics and Growth Drivers
The global NEMS market is projected to witness significant growth, fueled by: ✅ Miniaturization Trends — Growing adoption of nano-scale transistors, biosensors, and accelerometers in wearable tech and medical diagnostics. ✅ AI and IoT Integration — Advanced applications in smart sensors and real-time monitoring drive demand. ✅ Biomedical Innovations — NEMS-based biosensors enable early disease detection with high precision. ✅ Government Investments — Increased R&D funding in nanotechnology and semiconductor advancements.
Regional Insights & Competitive Landscape
📍 North America leads the market, thanks to strong R&D investments and semiconductor advancements in the U.S. 📍 Asia-Pacific is emerging as a high-growth region, with China, Japan, and South Korea focusing on nanotech-driven industrial automation. 📍 Key Players include IBM, Analog Devices, Broadcom, STMicroelectronics, and Nanoscale Components, leveraging breakthrough nanomaterials like graphene for superior device efficiency.
Despite immense potential, high manufacturing costs and material complexities remain challenges. However, with AI-powered design automation and advancements in 2D materials, the NEMS market is poised for exponential growth.
#NanoTech #NEMS #MEMS #AIoT #SmartSensors #QuantumComputing #Nanomaterials #NanoSensors #WearableTech #BioSensors #IoTDevices #Semiconductors #AdvancedMaterials #NextGenTech #TechInnovation #Graphene #Miniaturization #MedicalDevices #Automation #SmartElectronics
0 notes
Text
Quantum Sensors Market Size, Growth Rate, Industry Opportunities, and Forecast by 2032
Quantum sensors leverage the principles of quantum mechanics to achieve highly precise measurements of various physical parameters. By harnessing phenomena such as quantum entanglement and superposition, these sensors can detect minute changes in magnetic fields, gravitational forces, and time with unparalleled accuracy. Quantum sensors are increasingly being used in fields that require extremely sensitive measurements, such as navigation, medical imaging, and environmental monitoring. Their ability to provide data at a higher resolution than classical sensors is transforming industries that depend on precision, from defense and aerospace to healthcare and telecommunications.
The Quantum Sensors Market size was valued at USD 302.35 Million in 2023 and is expected to grow to USD 1167.80 Million by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 16.2% over the forecast period of 2024-2032.
Future Scope
The future of quantum sensors lies in their expanding capabilities and integration into advanced technologies. As research in quantum mechanics progresses, these sensors are expected to become more compact, efficient, and affordable, allowing broader adoption across industries. Quantum sensors hold the potential to revolutionize sectors such as autonomous transportation, where they could enable more accurate navigation systems. In the medical field, quantum sensors could lead to advancements in non-invasive imaging and diagnostics. Additionally, the development of quantum networks is expected to drive further innovation, enabling distributed sensing systems that operate with unprecedented precision.
Trends
The growing interest in quantum technology is fueling innovation in the sensor market. Key trends include miniaturization, as quantum sensors become smaller and more portable, enabling their use in handheld devices and mobile platforms. Additionally, advances in quantum computing and communication are creating synergies with sensor technology, leading to more robust and interconnected systems. Governments and private sector entities are heavily investing in quantum research, aiming to unlock new capabilities in defense, environmental monitoring, and navigation. The rise of quantum-enhanced imaging is also a significant trend, offering breakthroughs in medical diagnostics and environmental scanning.
Applications
Quantum sensors are finding applications in a wide range of industries. In defense, they are used for highly sensitive detection of submarines and underground structures, while in aerospace, they enhance navigation and gravitational field mapping. In healthcare, quantum sensors enable improved imaging technologies, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), with greater detail and accuracy. Environmental monitoring systems also benefit from quantum sensors, particularly in detecting changes in climate patterns and geological activity. Furthermore, quantum sensors are expected to play a vital role in future smart city infrastructure, optimizing energy usage and improving transportation systems.
Solutions and Services
Quantum sensor technology providers offer custom solutions for industries that require precision measurement capabilities. These solutions include quantum magnetometers, quantum gyroscopes, and quantum accelerometers tailored for specific applications in defense, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. Service offerings also extend to data analysis tools and integration support for industries looking to enhance their measurement systems with quantum sensor technology. Research institutions and companies are collaborating to develop scalable solutions that will bring quantum sensing technologies to a broader market, ensuring reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Key Points
Quantum sensors use quantum mechanics to provide ultra-precise measurements.
Major applications include defense, aerospace, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.
Trends include miniaturization, quantum-enhanced imaging, and growing investments in research.
Quantum sensors are set to revolutionize industries by enabling more accurate and sensitive detection systems.
Solutions include quantum magnetometers, gyroscopes, and accelerometers, alongside integration and data analysis services.
Read More Details: https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/quantum-sensors-market-3975
Contact Us:
Akash Anand — Head of Business Development & Strategy
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1–415–230–0044 (US) | +91–7798602273 (IND)
0 notes
Text
The Evolution of Quantum Sensors in Healthcare
From accelerometers that flip our phone screen orientation to GPS systems that guide us on our daily journey, we rely heavily on electronic sensors to measure and respond to physical input from our environment. These sensors are powerful, but vast untapped potential exists in a different kind of sensor technology, based on the laws of quantum mechanics.
Quantum sensors offer unparalleled sensitivity and precision, which can unlock new applications in areas such as medical imaging, materials science, and surveillance. Using the principles of quantum mechanics, quantum sensors can sense magnetic fields, temperature, chemical properties, and even light particles with unprecedented accuracy.

In the near future, we will rely on quantum sensing in many aspects of our lives. In medicine, quantum sensors could detect cancer cells before a patient shows any symptoms and lead to more effective treatments. They could also identify the magnetic properties of genes, allowing doctors to develop personalized medicine for each patient.
Another important application of quantum sensing is its ability to capture electromagnetic tech ogle signals from distant sources – including nuclear explosions, natural radio waves, and electromagnetic pulses. Quantum sensors are able to detect such signals over much longer distances and at higher frequencies than classical sensors can, making them useful for remote monitoring and security.
A prime example of this is the quantum sensor developed by SRI and Twinleaf LLC, which can perform live magnetocardiography (measurement of heart signals). This quantum-based technology is thousands of times more sensitive than the best magnetic field sensors available today, which require expensive, shielded rooms to function. It can also detect biologically produced magnetic fields over a broad range of frequencies, unlike the best conventional sensors, which only work in a narrow range of frequencies.
Besides healthcare, other potential applications of quantum sensing include:
In material sciences, the magnetic properties of atoms and ions can be measured by using quantum sensors. This information is valuable in studies of matter at the atomic level, as well as for environmental monitoring, food safety, and medical diagnostics.
In medicine, quantum sensors could identify and diagnose diseases based on the magnetic properties of proteins. Using this technique, scientists can identify and create medicines to target the protein structures responsible for disease.
Quantum sensors can also help monitor the effects of drugs on the human body, allowing them to track changes in a person’s body as the drug takes effect. This information can be used to develop better clinical trials, improve dosages, and optimize the effectiveness of the medication.
The QSens cluster technology website initiative is aiming to secure Germany’s leading position in quantum sensor technology and transfer it from the physics laboratory into our everyday lives. The group is conducting research to produce high-performance quantum sensors for applications in the areas of mobility, Industry 4.0, and sustainability. For instance, quantum sensors can enable autonomous driving by continuously detecting the driver’s behavior and taking action in the event of an accident or if the driver becomes tired or has a medical emergency. They can also be used to allow patients who are unable to speak to control devices and communicate with others via brain-machine interfaces.
1 note
·
View note
Text
I’ve been in academics for more than 20 years as a member of the physics faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. Here, the department is small enough that all of us get to share in the course load, which is quite nice—it gives me an opportunity to teach a wide range of courses, from physical science (for non-science majors) all the way up to quantum mechanics.
During the first years of the pandemic, everyone in education had to adapt, and most of our activities weren't conducted in the most ideal environment. At my school, we started off by moving all classes online using Google Meet. (That wasn’t too much fun.) This was supplemented with short lecture videos. (I actually enjoyed making those.) Next, we implemented a hybrid model where some students would be in class and some would be online. (This was terrible.)
While remote learning can have some advantages, as a teacher I noticed that we all picked up some bad habits over the past couple of years. Have you noticed that after a holiday, when you’ve sat around and watched too much football while eating more than you normally would, you might not be at your regular level of fitness? Well, the same thing can happen with learning.
With exercise, you know that after the holidays you have to hit the gym or get outside in order to get back in shape and feel ready to take on the world. With learning, I think it is more about figuring out how to constructively use the technologies that helped us go remote instead of relying on them as a crutch.
Smartphones
It can be shocking to realize how much power we carry around with us all the time. Not only is your phone a very powerful computer, it also has a decent camera and a host of other sensors.
And smart phones often belong in school: It's possible to use your phone to collect and analyze data. For an experiment, students can use the accelerometers in the phone to measure the distance an elevator travels. Or how about using a long-exposure photo to measure the speed of the International Space Station? You can even solve physics problems by creating Python code right on your phone, or use built-in lidar to create 3D maps of a room.
In larger lecture-style classes, as a first step in class discussions, I have the students use their phones to vote their answers to conceptual questions. (One of my favorites is about the acceleration of a tossed ball at its highest point. A common answer is that since the velocity is zero, the acceleration is also zero—but that’s not true. In fact, if the acceleration was zero at the highest point where the velocity is also zero, the ball would just magically appear to be stationary.)
However, there is one way the students use their phones in class that I think is not always such a good idea: They take pictures of everything. (Admittedly, this has been going on for a while, so it’s not purely pandemic-related.) Now, don't get me wrong—I also take a lot of pictures. Photos are not just a great way to capture memories of your favorite dog; they can also serve as a reminder of things we need to do, like taking a picture of the grocery list. So what's the problem with students taking a picture in class of a physics solution or the derivation of an equation?
Let me give a real life example. It's my introductory physics course, and I'm going over a practice problem. I find it to be useful to model effective problem-solving strategies so that students can see the entire process. Of course, students have an opportunity to ask questions as I demonstrate the solution, and I pause several times to let them attempt each part before progressing. Once we make it to the end, the problem is finished, and at least part of the solution is written on the board. (Sometimes stuff gets erased.) Before you know it, some phones come out. Snap!
Why is that bad? I think it encourages students to think of physics problems as being like the game Pokémon Go, where the object is to capture as many solutions as possible. But it’s not: The process is important, not the solution.
I don’t mind if the student is just taking a picture to help them remember the result, intending to go back and work through the whole thing on their own. That's not a bad idea. However, I'm just afraid that all too often a student feels that the solution is the goal. Having the answer is not the same as understanding.
Or take the example of students who start off working on a problem in pairs using presentation boards mounted around the room. After working for five minutes, each student will move to a new board with a new student to work for five more minutes. This goes for three or four rounds until most pairs have solutions. (I got this idea from a fellow physics educator; it's called whiteboard speed dating.)
Sometimes these speed dating problems are a little difficult. Students can find it challenging to even start. They are afraid to put something on the board that might be wrong, because no one wants to be wrong. Wouldn't it be better to just not write anything down and wait? I mean, surely Dr. Allain (that's me) will eventually go over the solution and then boom, phone picture!
When this happens, I tell the class the following very important idea: "It's better to do something wrong than to see something right."
Those mistakes are part of the learning process. You can't expect to always get everything right when you are learning. It would be like going to basketball practice but not taking any shots because you are afraid that you might miss. Yes, you are going to miss. Missing a goal is how you get better at taking shots. The same is true for physics or any type of learning.
In the end, I let my students take photos, because there’s a chance they might actually use the pictures in a practical way. Also, banning phones would mean that I couldn't have any phone-based classroom activities, and it might send the wrong message that I have all the answers and the students need to earn those answers through hard work. Instead, the answers are just the tip of the iceberg.
But if you’re a student heading back to school in January, and your teacher allows phones in class, my advice would be to take pictures if you need to save something off the board. But don’t stop there. Force yourself to go back and work through any problems or solutions from those pictures. Treat the photo as the beginning of the learning process, not the end.
Online Answers
There's another place where the students’ focus on answers—instead of the learning process—is clearly visible: websites that give solutions to physics problems. During the pandemic, students took advantage of these more often, because more assessment was moved to an online form, which makes it easier to cheat. And because these sites are becoming more popular, there are now more of them. This makes me sad. The problem is that students can just copy a solution without understanding it, and it's all too obvious that many times this is exactly what happens.
Consider the following very common projectile-motion problem that is covered in just about every physics textbook: A ball is launched horizontally off a table that is 1.2 meters above the floor, and it hits 1.7 meters from the starting point. What is the launch velocity of the ball?
The problem is normally solved by looking at the horizontal and vertical motions separately. (That's the cool part of projectile motion.) Just about every textbook calls the horizontal velocity vx and the vertical velocity vy. So, when a student submits a solution using u for the horizontal velocity and u' (called u-prime) for the vertical velocity, it just looks weird. Why would they pick those symbols for the variables? You know why: They found the answer online.
You might think that if instructors assigned unique physics problems, the students would actually create their own solutions. That doesn't work. I can make something weird (and honestly quite fun) for a physics question, but students post it online within hours. It would actually be funny if it weren't so bad for learning. And even worse, someone is making serious money from these online solutions, which often require a subscription to their services.
If you’re a student who is tempted to use online answers, I’d urge you to use them only to work through a part of a problem that you are stuck on or to double-check that you’ve understood the problem correctly.
Attending Class
There's one more thing that students have a problem with lately—going to class.
Online learning isn't all bad; in fact, for some learners, it offers opportunities that weren't there before. Videos can help students keep up with class—well, if they actually watch them—and they provide an opportunity to review material that was perhaps a bit confusing. Going remote gives students a certain amount of flexibility to compensate for things that happen in real life, like catching the flu or getting a flat tire. Life happens, and it would be a shame to miss out on school. And it can be a bonus in Louisiana: When we have to cancel class because of a hurricane (yes, that happens), we won’t lose much class time since we can just switch to an online mode.
But there's something about in-person classes that I've found difficult to replicate in an online environment. I like to think of a physics class as a community of learners. Students can play the role of educator and learner at the same time when they interact with their peers. (And don't forget the other learner in the course—the instructor. Even teaching an introductory physics course, I still find some new understanding every time I teach it, which is why I love it so much.)
If you’re a teacher, there’s so much more that can be done during class time than just lecturing. You can have students work on problems—or even better, have them find the error in a solution to a problem. You could have them create problems that other students could solve. Honestly, the possibilities are endless. If you are looking for more ideas (at least in physics), check out the American Association of Physics Teachers’ resource site: Compadre.org.
If you are a student, try to attend class as much as possible. Don't think of it as though you are in a movie theater watching a bunch of answers. Instead, use that time to engage in all the learning opportunities.
In the end, the goal is to practice, not to get everything right. When it comes time to work on your homework, let yourself get stuck. Work the problem to the point where you don’t know what to do anymore. Getting stuck is the first step to getting unstuck, right? After all, if you don't have any troubles with a physics problem, then you either already understood it or it wasn't that great of a problem to begin with.
7 notes
·
View notes
Link
--- Imperial College London and engineering firm M Squared have developed a new "quantum accelerometer" that can provide precise locations without any external system.
0 notes
Note
Question. What technology or history have you learned from the long night? If I have permission to hear and learn from the voice of a famed priest of the mechanicus.
Some archaotech I’ve pilfered from the submartian ruins of the Red Planet:
The Gohan Extractor: Renders down any plant or animal matter, processing all edible material and presenting it in an easily digestible fashion for maximum efficiency. Replicated and dispersed to a significant number of high population Hive clusters.
The Quantum Watch: Approximately the size of a child’s torso, this piece of human archaeotech is simply composed of a metal block, and a gear mounted on an axle into the block. The gear ticks once per second with total accuracy, and without any need for an external power supply. It is currently installed as the motive unit for the belltower of the Temple of All Knowledge.
Vaidok Cannon: Mounted on the fortress moon of Phobos, Vaidok cannon is an immense macro-mag cannon that outclasses all other single void weapons in the system. Its ammunition is of a scale worthy of classification as an autonomous vessel, and incorporates both a sophisticated radar system and a warp engine. Upon firing, the projectile hurtles through space at a significant fraction of the speed of light, and moments before impact, skips into the warp before reappearing inside the bulk of the enemy ship. The round then causes significant destruction as a fast travelling solid round, before detonating once its internal accelerometer reaches 0. The detonation incorporates arcane weaponry, and releases a legion of Marid-class machine spirits which proceed to decimate the enemy vessel with internal malfunction, and are capable of slaying Greater Daemons bound into the hull of Chaos vessels.
#my stuff#asks#admech#adeptus mechanicus#the cannon is named for an oc tech priest who i've yet to fully flesh out
12 notes
·
View notes
Quote
Less obviously, ports would cease to operate, as their cranes need GPS to find the right container to move, and they play a crucial role in logistics operations, allowing car manufacturers and supermarkets to take advantage of just-in-time delivery systems. Without it, our supermarket shelves would be emptier and prices would be higher. But if GPS and its international cousins were to suddenly disappear – what alternatives could we turn to in an attempt to keep all our world moving? [...] Perhaps a more day-to-day option might be inertial navigation, which uses a set of accelerometers to work out the exact speed and direction that a vehicle is travelling in to calculate its position. Basic versions are already in common use. “When your car goes into a tunnel and you lose the GPS signal, it’s inertial navigation that keeps your position updated,” says Curry. The problem with inertial navigation is “drift” – the calculated position gets less accurate over time as errors build up, so the inertial navigator in your car is only useful for short GPS interruptions. Drift could be overcome with quantum sensors thousands of times more sensitive than existing devices. In the quantum world, atoms and particles start to behave as both matter and waves, and acceleration alters the properties of this behaviour. French company iXBlue is using this technique to build a device to rival GPS precision, and a team from Imperial College London, working with laser specialists M Squared, demonstrated a prototype portable quantum accelerometer in 2018. Such quantum sensors are still confined to laboratories and are years away from a usable end product. Optical navigation, in which automated systems with cameras use landmarks like buildings and road junctions, may be with us much sooner. An early version, known as Digital Scene Matching, was developed for cruise missiles. ImageNav, developed by Scientific Systems for the US Air Force, is a modern optical navigation system for aircraft. It has a terrain database of the area being navigated and matches it with input from video cameras to work out its location. ImageNav has been successfully tested on a number of aircraft, but could also find uses in self-driving vehicles. Swedish company Everdrone also recently carried out the first drone delivery between hospitals without using GPS. Their system uses a combination of optical flow – measuring speed by the rate of which scenery passes below – and landmark identification to find its way from point to point with GPS-like precision. Of course, this method relies on have a complete and accurate image database of the area you are navigating, which is likely to require a lot of memory and frequent updates. The UK is developing a backup system for the timing synchronisation services that GPS provides in the form of The National Timing Centre program, the first such national service in the world. When it becomes operational in 2025, it will involve sets of precise atomic clocks at distributed, secure locations across the UK, providing timing signals via cable and radio services. The idea is that if satellite signals go down, there is no single vulnerable centre that could be brought down by an accident, technical glitch or cyberattack. Ultimately no single system may be able to replace the power of satellite navigation systems such as GPS, and we may end up with a mix-and-match of different solutions for ships, planes and cars. The US Department of Transport is now holding a competition to select possible backups for GPS. There is a real question though over whether any alternative will be in place soon enough.
“What would the world do without GPS?” from BBC Future
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Introduction: A model rocket altimeter is a small electronic device that measures the altitude of a model rocket during its flight. It is a crucial component of model rocketry and provides valuable data for rocketeers to improve their launches. In the UK, model rocketry is a popular hobby, and a model rocket altimeter is an essential tool for enthusiasts to keep track of the performance of their rockets. In this article, we will explore the various types of model rocket altimeters available in the UK and their features. Types of Model Rocket Altimeters: There are two main types of model rocket altimeters in the UK – Barometric and Accelerometer Altitude Measuring Devices (AAMD). Barometric altimeters use atmospheric pressure to measure altitude, while AAMDs use position and acceleration data to calculate altitude. Let's take a closer look at these two different types of rocket altimeters. 1. Barometric Altimeters: Barometric altimeters work by measuring changes in air pressure. As the rocket ascends, the air pressure decreases, and the barometric altimeter records the change in pressure to determine the altitude. The device then records the altitude data and stores it in memory for later analysis. One of the significant advantages of barometric altimeters is that they are very accurate. They can measure changes in altitude of less than one foot. They are also lightweight, making them an ideal choice for model rockets. One of the most popular barometric altimeters in the UK is the Featherweight Altitude Recorder (FAR). It is a small, lightweight device that can measure altitudes of up to 40,000 feet. It has an accuracy of less than one foot and can store up to 32 flights in its memory. Another popular barometric altimeter is the Miss Quantum, sold by St Austell Bay Model Rocket Club. It features a small, light-weight design, making it easy to install in a model rocket. It can also measure altitudes of up to 30,000 feet with an accuracy of less than one foot. 2. Accelerometer Altimeters: Accelerometer altimeters work by recording the acceleration of the rocket as it ascends. They then use this data to calculate the altitude based on the rocket's acceleration and position relative to the ground. Accelerometer altimeters are less accurate than barometric altimeters, but they are better at measuring the higher altitudes that model rockets can reach. One popular accelerometer altimeter in the UK is the EggTimer Quantum. It features an accelerometer sensor that can measure altitudes of up to 10,000 feet with an accuracy of about 200 feet. It also has a built-in memory that can store up to 150 flights. Another popular accelerometer altimeter is the PerfectFlite Stratologger. It can measure altitudes of up to 50,000 feet with an accuracy of fewer than two feet. It has a built-in memory that can store up to 15 flights. FAQs: 1. Do I need an altimeter for my model rocket? Technically, no, you do not need an altimeter for your model rocket. However, if you want to improve the performance of your rocket, an altimeter can provide valuable data that can be used to make improvements. 2. How do I install an altimeter in my model rocket? The installation of an altimeter will depend on the specific product that you choose. However, most products come with installation instructions that are easy to follow. Typically, the altimeter is mounted in the rocket, and the wires are connected to the rocket's recovery system. 3. Can altimeters be reused? Yes, most altimeters can be reused. They are designed to withstand the forces of a rocket launch and can be used again for future flights. Conclusion: Model rocket altimeters are a critical component of model rocketry in the UK. They provide valuable data that can be used to improve the performance of rockets. There are two main types of altimeters - barometric and accelerometer altimeters. Barometric altimeters are highly accurate but are limited to lower altitudes, while accelerometer altimeters are better at measuring higher altitudes.
Ultimately, the choice of altimeter will depend on the specific needs of the rocketeer. If you have any questions or comments Please contact us on our contact page or via our Facebook page. #model #rocket #altimeter
0 notes
Text
Quantum accelerometer could allow navigation without relying on satellites
New Post has been published on https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/quantum-accelerometer-could-allow-navigation-without-relying-on-satellites/
Quantum accelerometer could allow navigation without relying on satellites

A UK team from Imperial College London and M Squared has demonstrated a transportable, standalone quantum accelerometer at the National Quantum Technologies Showcase, an event demonstrating the technological progress arising from the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme — a £270m UK Government investment over five years. The device represents the UK’s first commercially viable quantum accelerometer, which could be used for navigation. To find out more please visit https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/18897…
#National Quantum Technologies Showcase#Quantum accelerometer#Quantum compass#UK National Quantum Technologies Programme
0 notes
Text


Design of hybrid quantum inertial sensor, or quantum accelerometer triad (QuAT): the components of the acceleration vector are measured perpendicularly to the surface of their respective mirrors
11/11/2022
0 notes
Photo

'Quantum Accelerometer' Tracks Location Without GPS - the accelerometer knows when it moves with a high degree of accuracy, and it, therefore, knows where it is at all times based on where it started. https://ift.tt/2QxyLvM
1 note
·
View note
Text
This device could usher in GPS-free navigation


A compact device designed and built at Sandia National Laboratories could become a pivotal component of next-generation navigation systems. Credit: Bret Latter
Don’t let the titanium metal walls or the sapphire windows fool you. It’s what’s on the inside of this small, curious device that could someday kick off a new era of navigation.
For over a year, the avocado-sized vacuum chamber has contained a cloud of atoms at the right conditions for precise navigational measurements. It is the first device that is small, energy-efficient and reliable enough to potentially move quantum sensors—sensors that use quantum mechanics to outperform conventional technologies—from the lab into commercial use, said Sandia National Laboratories scientist Peter Schwindt.
Sandia developed the chamber as a core technology for future navigation systems that don’t rely on GPS satellites, he said. It was described earlier this year in the journal AVS Quantum Science.
Countless devices around the world use GPS for wayfinding. It’s possible because atomic clocks, which are known for extremely accurate timekeeping, hold the network of satellites perfectly in sync.
But GPS signals can be jammed or spoofed, potentially disabling navigation systems on commercial and military vehicles alike, Schwindt said.
So instead of relying on satellites, Schwindt said future vehicles might keep track of their own position. They could do that with on-board devices as accurate as atomic clocks, but that measure acceleration and rotation by shining lasers into small clouds of rubidium gas like the one Sandia has contained.

Sandia National Laboratories scientist Peter Schwindt, left, and postdoctoral scientist Bethany Little examine the vacuum package held in a yellow, 3D-printed mount. Credit: Bret Latter
Compactness key to real-world applications
Atomic accelerometers and gyroscopes already exist, but they’re too bulky and power-hungry to use in an airplane’s navigation system. That’s because they need a large vacuum system to work, one that needs thousands of volts of electricity.
“Quantum sensors are a growing field, and there are lots of applications you can demonstrate in the lab,” said Sandia postdoctoral scientist Bethany Little, who is contributing to the research. “But when you move it into the real world there are lots of problems you have to solve. Two are making the sensor compact and rugged. The physics takes place all in a cubic centimeter (0.06 cubic inches) of volume, so anything larger than that is wasted space.”
Little said her team has shown that quantum sensing can work without a high-powered vacuum system. This shrinks the package to a practical size without sacrificing reliability.
Instead of a powered vacuum pump, which whisks away molecules that leak in and wreck measurements, a pair of devices called getters use chemical reactions to bind intruders. The getters are each about the size of a pencil eraser so they can be tucked inside two narrow tubes sticking out of the titanium package. They also work without a power source.
To further keep out contaminants, Schwindt partnered with Sandia materials scientists to build the chamber out of titanium and sapphire. These materials are especially good at blocking out gasses like helium, which can squeeze through stainless steel and Pyrex glass. Funding was provided by Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development program.
Construction took sophisticated fabrication techniques that Sandia has honed to bond advanced materials for nuclear weapons components. And like a nuclear weapon, the titanium chamber must work reliably for years.
The Sandia team is continuing to monitor the device. Their goal is to keep it sealed and operational for five years, an important milestone toward showing the technology is ready to be fielded. In the meantime, they’re exploring ways to streamline manufacturing.
Patient-friendly brain imager gets green light toward first prototype
More information: Bethany J. Little et al, A passively pumped vacuum package sustaining cold atoms for more than 200 days, AVS Quantum Science (2021). DOI: 10.1116/5.0053885
Provided by Sandia National Laboratories
Citation: This device could usher in GPS-free navigation (2021, October 26) retrieved 26 October 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2021-10-device-usher-gps-free.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
New post published on: https://livescience.tech/2021/10/26/this-device-could-usher-in-gps-free-navigation/
0 notes
Text
This weird, cheap quantum device can run for a year with a single kick of energy
https://sciencespies.com/physics/this-weird-cheap-quantum-device-can-run-for-a-year-with-a-single-kick-of-energy/
This weird, cheap quantum device can run for a year with a single kick of energy

As our need for electronic gadgets and sensors grows, scientists are coming up with new ways to keep devices powered for longer on less energy.
The latest sensor to be invented in the lab can go for a whole year on a single burst of energy, aided by a physics phenomenon known as quantum tunnelling.
The tunnelling aspect means that with the help of a 50-million-electron jumpstart, this simple and inexpensive device (made up of just four capacitors and two transistors) can keep going for an extended period of time.
The quantum rules of physics, applying at the smallest atomic scales, means that electrons can behave both as particles and as waves, and the scientists were able to tap into that behaviour to precisely control electron flow from one side of a circuit to the other.

The quantum tunnelling sensor chipset and the Fowler-Nordheim tunnelling barriers. (Chakrabartty Lab)
“If you want to get to the other side, you have to physically climb the hill,” says electrical engineer Shantanu Chakrabartty, from Washington University in St. Louis.
“Quantum tunneling is more like going through the hill.”
In order to generate current, devices need to be able to give electrons a hard enough push – something known as threshold energy, because that push needs to be over a certain threshold. When you’re trying to make devices that run on as little power as possible, hitting that threshold can prove tricky.
This is where the quantum mechanics part comes in: by taking certain approaches to shaping the ‘hill’ or barrier that needs to be overcome, it’s possible to control the flow of electrons in a variety of different ways.
In this case, the ‘hill’ is what’s called a Fowler-Nordheim tunnelling barrier, less than 100 atoms thick. By building the barrier in this way, the scientists were able to slow the flow of electrons right down while keeping the system (and the device) stable and switched on.
“Imagine there is an apple hanging from a tree,” says Chakrabartty. “You can shake the tree a little bit, but the apple doesn’t fall. You have to give it enough of a tug to shake the apple loose.”
“It’s the minimal amount of energy needed to move an electron over a barrier.”
Within the device are two dynamical systems, one with a transducer (energy converter). The team had to work backwards to shape their hill or barrier, measuring electron movement first and then refining the Fowler-Nordheim setup accordingly.
What the researchers ended up with was a device that uses the interplay between the two internal systems to sense and log data using no additional power. Something like this could be used for monitoring glucose in the blood, for example, or measuring temperature for vaccine transportation – batteries not necessary.
In this case, the transducer used was a piezoelectric accelerometer, which sensed and was powered by ambient motion, but the basic principles of the long-running, high-efficiency system can be applied to other types of energy harvesting too.
“Right now, the platform is generic,” says Chakrabartty. “It just depends on what you couple to the device. As long as you have a transducer that can generate an electrical signal, it can self-power our sensor-data-logger.”
The research has been published in Nature Communications.
#Physics
0 notes