British working on Quantum Compass to replace GPS

[autumnbreeze27]

Interesting article, it sure would be nice to have a GPS that is independent of any outside signal. Can't wait for this to trickle down to recreational use, I'll have to sell my sextant before they fit it in smartphones.

British MoD works on 'quantum compass' technology to replace GPS

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by autumnbreeze27

Interesting article, it sure would be nice to have a GPS that is independent of any outside signal. Can't wait for this to trickle down to recreational use, I'll have to sell my sextant before they fit it in smartphones.

British MoD works on 'quantum compass' technology to replace GPS

"Part of the reason the MoD is so keen to develop a "quantum compass" is that GPS doesn't work underwater. When submarines dive they navigate using accelerometers to register every twist and turn of the vessel. However, this method is not very accurate."

GPS doesn't need to work underwater.

There's an inboard winch located behind the conning tower, with very sensitive constant tension instrumentation. During high-burst transmissions (for comms to shore) they run a buoy up to the surface, the high-tension winches can maintain the buoy at the surface regardless of wave-action (relative to the sub). The GPS position is updated during these activities, and the accelerometers are used in between buoy deployments.

I wonder how effective the system will be when the surface of the planet is swamped with quantum fluctuation activity coming from mobile phones!?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

"Part of the reason the MoD is so keen to develop a "quantum compass" is that GPS doesn't work underwater. When submarines dive they navigate using accelerometers to register every twist and turn of the vessel. However, this method is not very accurate."

GPS doesn't need to work underwater.

There's an inboard winch located behind the conning tower, with very sensitive constant tension instrumentation. During high-burst transmissions (for comms to shore) they run a buoy up to the surface, the high-tension winches can maintain the buoy at the surface regardless of wave-action (relative to the sub). The GPS position is updated during these activities, and the accelerometers are used in between buoy deployments.

I wonder how effective the system will be when the surface of the planet is swamped with quantum fluctuation activity coming from mobile phones!?

Depends whether the M.O.D. use Virgin Mobile or the 3 network......

[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

"Part of the reason the MoD is so keen to develop a "quantum compass" is that GPS doesn't work underwater. When submarines dive they navigate using accelerometers to register every twist and turn of the vessel. However, this method is not very accurate."

GPS doesn't need to work underwater.

There's an inboard winch located behind the conning tower, with very sensitive constant tension instrumentation. During high-burst transmissions (for comms to shore) they run a buoy up to the surface, the high-tension winches can maintain the buoy at the surface regardless of wave-action (relative to the sub). The GPS position is updated during these activities, and the accelerometers are used in between buoy deployments.

I wonder how effective the system will be when the surface of the planet is swamped with quantum fluctuation activity coming from mobile phones!?

What submarines are these winched antennas mounted on? Do you have any pics of them?

[roverhi]

the main reason the military would be interested in this navigation system is it doesn't require satellites to function. The first thing an aggressor with the capability will do is knock out the satellites either by physically destroying or by an EMP burst. In short order, no more GPS, smart bombs, etc, etc, etc. it would instantly cripple our army till they relearned map and compass navigation.

[pdf27]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

GPS doesn't need to work underwater.

There's an inboard winch located behind the conning tower, with very sensitive constant tension instrumentation. During high-burst transmissions (for comms to shore) they run a buoy up to the surface, the high-tension winches can maintain the buoy at the surface regardless of wave-action (relative to the sub). The GPS position is updated during these activities, and the accelerometers are used in between buoy deployments.

This is presumably for the Vanguard class, which don't transmit unless absolutely necessary - even sticking a passive buoy up would be dodgy. When one of them hit a French submarine a few years ago, neither side realised they'd hit another submarine until weeks later when both went in for repair at the same time...

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

GPS doesn't need to work underwater.

Well, never mind every submersible ever, then, but it's clear as I was working on a dive boat yesterday in 12 feet of murky water with a diver who was trying to find mooring chains that orientation underwater is woeful, and that a GPS-like nav system for divers would be a tangible benefit.