A share of £50m of government funding for quantum technologies has been awarded to support the further development and commercialisation of the Rail Quantum Inertial Navigation System. This aims to provide extremely accurate location information to support condition-based monitoring, train control, and signalling applications without needing satellites or lineside equipment.
Current train location systems use both satellite-based systems as well as inertial sensors and gyroscopes to assess how far a train has moved and work out where it is in three-dimensional space. Satellite systems can provide locations to around 1 m or better with more advanced technology, but they suffer from drift and accuracy is significantly reduced with poor reception. Quantum systems are expected to achieve 100 mm or better, without any drift.
Innovate UK SBRI Quantum Catalyst funding was previously used to demonstrate the RQINS concept on sections of the London Underground where satellite signals cannot reach. The latest funding will support the implementation of a product maturity roadmap to bring a commercial version to market and develop the second phase.
