According to London Reconnections, the Rail Quantum Inertial Navigation System (RQINS) has been awarded a share of £50m of government funding for quantum technologies. The money is intended to support further development and commercialisation of the system.
The system aims to provide very accurate location information for trains. According to the report, this could support condition-based monitoring, train control and signalling applications without relying on satellites or equipment placed along the track.
Why location accuracy matters
Current train location systems combine satellite positioning with inertial sensors and gyroscopes. These track how far a train has moved and estimate its position in three-dimensional space. Satellite-based systems can locate trains to around 1 metre or better with more advanced technology. However, they can drift over time, and accuracy falls noticeably when reception is poor.
Quantum systems are expected to reach 100 millimetres or better, and the source states that they do not suffer from drift. These expectations are presented as the information released by the source and have not been independently verified in the article.
Tests on the London Underground
Earlier funding from Innovate UK, through its SBRI Quantum Catalyst programme, was used to demonstrate the RQINS concept on sections of the London Underground where satellite signals cannot reach. These tests showed the system working in areas that satellite navigation cannot cover.
Next steps
The new funding will support a product maturity roadmap intended to bring a commercial version of the system to market. It will also help develop a second phase of the project. The article does not give a timetable for deployment or details on which lines or stations may use the technology in future.