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Quantum Compass to Revolutionize Sat-Nav Systems of Tomorrow

Scientists from the British Ministry of Defense are working hard on a sci-fi gizmo called a 'quantum compass', said to phase out the global positioning system widely used by drivers, smartphone users and the military.
Sat-Nav system 1 photo
Photo: eBay.co.uk
At first, the British Ministry of Defense poured millions of taxpayers' money into this project for one reason only: the satellite-driven GPS doesn't work that great underwater, especially in military applications like nuclear submarines.

As opposed to its spatial predecessor, the 'quantum compass' is an earth-based technology which uses subatomic particles that interact with the Earth's magnetic field for pinpoint accuracy.

According to the organization, if a modern sub goes submersible a day without a GPS fix, headquarters will register a one mile navigation drift the moment it surfaces. But with the sci-fi 'quantum compass', scientists are adamant the futuristic gizmo will decrease the locating error margin to a mere three feet.

Another serious advantage of the gizmo over the traditional GPS system and the overworked satellite network is that it's interference-proof. Why? It's virtually impossible to be tampered with because it uses quantum mechanics, not the typical GPS L1 and L2 radio signals that won't travel through water or solid objects such as buildings.

Currently, the 'quantum compass' resembles a big shoe box, so it's not quite as compact as your car's sat-nav system. According to the UK-based institution, scientists are currently focused on miniaturizing the device so it can be carried by infantry troops, not just by subs and other military ships.

If the technology trickles down to consumer electronics like smartphones and vehicle sat-nav systems of the near future, quantum time, navigation and sensing technologies are sure to bring game-changing advantages to the table.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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