UK: MoniRail has secured £1·25m of additional funding to further develop a quantum navigation system for use on the London Underground, and potentially the national rail network.
The Rail Quantum Inertial Navigation System project is testing whether quantum inertial navigation systems could be used to provide extremely accurate location information to support condition-based monitoring, train control and signalling applications without needing satellites or lineside equipment. It is being undertaken by University of Birmingham spinout company MoniRail in collaboration with Transport for London, QinetiQ, PA Consulting, Imperial College London and the University of Sussex.
The additional funding announced in November has been awarded as part of the government’s wider National Quantum Technologies Showcase investment in quantum technologies across a range of sectors from transport to healthcare.
‘Being a partner in the RQINS project has highlighted the transformative potential of quantum navigation and the importance of continued investment and collaboration to bring these innovations to life’, said Steve Venables, Senior Engineer at Transport for London. ‘We commit our support and partnerships with industry and academia to deliver tangible benefits to the UK rail infrastructure, with a focus on real-world impact and long-term resilience. We look forward to being part of the development roadmap in this next phase of UKRI funding.’
- Read Railway Gazette International’s in-depth article on the quantum train location testing project.
