Branson Brooks
Artificial intelligence and quantum-specializing company SandboxAQ has debuted a new multi-domain navigation product.
Suppose a Global Positioning Satellite system is jammed or unavailable. In that case, AQNav will provide support through an alternative system that uses AI algorithms, strong quantum sensors and the Earth’s crust magnetic field to ensure efficient navigation, the Palo Alto, California-based company said Tuesday.
Eric Schmidt, chairman of SandboxAQ and former CEO of Google, believes it’s “critical to have a global supplementary navigation system that works with inertial systems,” in the cases of spoofing GPS.
“AQNav is a great example of how AI is impacting society in novel ways,” Schmidt said. “Navigation by the Earth’s magnetic field is possible because of the ability of AI to analyze the magnetic signals from the quantum sensors in real-time.”
The new product aims to combat the GPS interference that reportedly impacts industries like agriculture, financial services, public infrastructure, and safety systems like environmental monitoring, roadway management and disaster response.
“Working closely with our public and private-sector partners, SandboxAQ has used AI and quantum tech to create a safe, secure navigation alternative to supplement GPS, and we’re proud to make our breakthrough AQNav system widely available to companies and governments around the world,” said SandboxAQ CEO Jack Hidary.
In January 2023, SandboxAQ received a Direct-to-Phase-II Small Business Innovation Research contract from the USAF to perform tests and build geomagnetic navigation systems. By May 2023, the company had completed the first flight tests of AQNav.
As of now, AQNav has logged more than 200 flight hours and more than 40 missions through multiple regions on four different aircraft models, ranging in size from single-engine planes to large military vessels.
