QSPACE – Quantum Sensors for Aerospace Applications

Accurate measure­ment of accel­er­a­tions, gravity, frequen­cies, time, and magnetic fields is essen­tial for many appli­ca­tions in aerospace. Sensors based on quantum systems, so-called quantum sensors, have the poten­tial to revolu­tion­ize these measure­ments, as they far surpass currently used sensors in terms of accuracy and stability.

The use of quantum sensors in aerospace systems will provide a range of direct societal benefits, includ­ing:

  • Improved predic­tions of climate change impacts through more precise measure­ment of changes in the Earth’s gravi­ta­tional field caused by melting ice caps

  • Enhanced safety in air and terres­trial trans­porta­tion through accurate position­ing even in the event of Galileo/GPS failures or disruptions

  • New insights into planets and their forma­tion through precise measure­ments of their gravi­ta­tional and magnetic fields

  • Improve­ment of GNSS systems such as Galileo or GPS through the use of highly accurate clocks and the enable­ment of new system architectures

The avail­abil­ity of quantum sensors will sustain­ably strengthen the aerospace indus­try in Baden-Württemberg.

In this project, quantum sensors for the high-precision measure­ment of magnetic fields, distances, accel­er­a­tions, and frequen­cies will be analyzed and demon­strated in selected appli­ca­tions. Based on the work pursued here, a long-term in-orbit demon­stra­tion of quantum sensors in satel­lite instru­ments can be achieved, which in turn could lead to an increase in the perfor­mance of satel­lite systems.

 
 

Within the frame­work of QSPACE, the follow­ing research objec­tives are to be achieved:

  • Minia­tur­iza­tion and demon­stra­tion of quantum sensors in the fields of inertial sensing, magne­tom­e­try, and frequency measure­ment for aerospace applications.

  • Analy­sis of market poten­tial and technol­ogy readi­ness of quantum sensors for use in aviation and space, and the devel­op­ment of a corre­spond­ing devel­op­ment strat­egy.