Advanced Navigation, an Australian navigation tech company, has developed a revolutionary technology that is set to transform space navigation. Their Quantum-Powered Inertial Navigation System (INS) utilizes quantum tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to perform calculations with extreme precision, eliminating the need for maps, transponders, or remote control.
Unlike traditional INS systems, Advanced Navigation’s lightweight INS doesn’t rely on GPS signals or star sightings to determine its position. Instead, it leverages the properties of digital fiber optics to make calculations at the quantum level, resulting in significantly more accurate results. This groundbreaking technology has the capability to land space probes on distant planets like Mars.
The company’s LiDAV (Light Detection, Altimetry, and Velocimetry) system, part of their product series called Boreas, produces highly accurate three-dimensional velocity and altitude data. It will be incorporated into Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, which is being developed as part of NASA’s lunar logistics program.
Xavier Orr, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Navigation, explains that their INS system measures the vehicle’s motion using accelerometers and gyroscopes and utilizes AI algorithms to determine positional changes from the starting point. However, even a small error in calculation can escalate to a dangerous level, especially at the beginning of a mission.
What sets Advanced Navigation’s technology apart is its use of quantum accelerometers, which significantly reduce errors compared to traditional accelerometers. This leap in performance is particularly crucial for long-endurance missions that last hundreds of days.
To support the commercial-scale production of their cutting-edge technology, Advanced Navigation has opened a new robotic manufacturing facility at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Tech Lab in Botany Bay. This initiative was made possible through a $5.2 million Supply Chain Capability Improvement Grant issued under the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative.
Apart from space navigation, Advanced Navigation is collaborating with UTS on other projects as well. Together, they are working on a Cloud Ground Control system to coordinate autonomous vehicles for commercial and emergency service fleets. Additionally, they are designing an indoor positioning system to assist visually impaired individuals in navigating complex environments, such as underground train stations.
The collaboration between UTS and Advanced Navigation aims not only to develop new technologies for space-based industries and NASA’s Artemis moon mission, but also to enhance Australia’s economic complexity and sovereign capabilities. Building industrial capacity in high-tech sectors and fostering collaboration between government agencies, academic institutions, and industry leaders are key steps in achieving these objectives.
With their innovative technology and manufacturing capabilities, Advanced Navigation is poised to make significant contributions to global supply chains in the space industry. Additionally, their collaborations with UTS demonstrate their commitment to developing practical applications of their technology for various sectors, including autonomous vehicles and accessibility solutions for visually impaired individuals. Advanced Navigation’s quantum-powered INS technology is a testament to the incredible advancements being made in the field of space navigation.
