AOSense proposes to develop a fully functional 6DOF IMU based on atom-interferometric quantum sensors for inertial navigation of U.S Navy platforms in the absence of GPS that will achieve performance at the upper end of navigation-grade or better in a field demonstration on a maritime platform. This effort will leverage AOSenses broad expertise and history of innovation in atom interferometry to significantly advance the state of the art for deployed quantum inertial sensors.
Benefit: Inertial navigation systems are a key DOD asset for missions in which GPS is either unavailable or actively denied. Defense systems such as aircraft, ballistic missiles, submarines, and spacecraft all rely critically on inertial measurement units to aid or provide positioning. Recent efforts to reduce military and civilian reliance on GPS have greatly increased demand for inertial sensors. Quantum atomic inertial sensors have demonstrated superior performance over conventional inertial devices owing to the intrinsic stability of the atom and have the potential to transform precision navigation and guidance. In this SBIR project, AOSense will develop a 6DOF IMU for navigation in the absence of GPS. While our target application for the SBIR is maritime platforms, once the technology is demonstrated, we can modify the design to accommodate a variety of SWaP and performance levels that would enable a broad range of applications on a variety of platforms.
Keywords: Inertial navigation, Inertial navigation, IMU, Inertial Sensing, quantum sensing, atom interferometry, Accelerometers, gyroscopes
