Royal Navy installs quantum clock in robotic submarine
15 days ago
- #autonomous-submarines
- #naval-innovation
- #quantum-technology
- The Royal Navy has installed a quantum clock into its XV Excalibur robotic submarine for precise underwater navigation.
- Autonomous uncrewed submarines are being adopted by major navies for force multiplication, extended surveillance, hazardous missions, and operational efficiency.
- Uncrewed submarines are cheaper, more compact, and only limited by power supply, with nuclear-powered versions potentially staying submerged indefinitely.
- Submarines cannot use GPS underwater and rely on Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), which suffer from drift accumulation over time.
- The Navy is testing a Quantum Positioning and Timing (PNT) system using an Infleqtion Tiqker optical atomic clock for higher accuracy.
- The quantum clock loses only one second every 30 billion years, drastically reducing navigational drift.
- The compact size (1.6 ft³, 66 lb) of the quantum clock makes it ideal for small submarines like Excalibur.
- Sea trials have confirmed the clock's integration and accuracy, with data shared under the AUKUS treaty.
- Commander Matthew Steele highlights the importance of quantum clocks for precision navigation in prolonged underwater operations.