Quantum and Radio-Wave Systems Emerge as GPS Alternatives
· Technology · Hindustan Times, The Economist, economist
Researchers are developing navigation alternatives to GPS to counter the increasing threat of signal jamming in conflict zones. A study led by Todd Humphreys at the University of Texas, Austin, linked widespread GPS disruptions across Europe since 2019 to Russian satellite constellations. Two emerging technologies include magnetic navigation, which uses Earth's magnetic anomalies, and systems that track ambient radio waves. Australian firm Q-CTRL recently demonstrated a magnetic navigation system using optically pumped magnetometers that outperformed existing GPS alternatives in trials over New South Wales. While these methods currently lack the precision of global navigation satellite systems, they are being refined as reliable backups for both land and sea navigation.
Why it matters
The development of non-satellite navigation is critical for military and civilian sectors that rely on GPS, which is increasingly vulnerable to jamming during geopolitical conflicts.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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