News
Quantum ‘compass’ technology aids in navigation without use of GPS satellites
Scientists from Imperial College London and M Squared, a photonics and quantum technology company, have created a portable quantum accelerometer which enables location tracking without the aid of GPS satellites. As demonstrated at the National Quantum Technologies Showcase 2018 in London, the device utilizes ultra-cooled atoms and lasers to measure position with precision made possible by quantum mechanics. The system is currently designed to be used for navigating large vehicles such as ships and trains, but smaller-scale devices will be available as the technology develops.
Quantum accelerator in the lab. | Credit: Imperial College London
The reliance on global navigation satellite systems such as GPS has a few significant shortcomings that the quantum accelerometer would overcome. Satellite signals can be blocked or jammed, interfering with the systems that rely on the data being provided. Threats such as electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks on a massive scale, now closer to reality with nuclear capability developments around the world, would cripple any technology relying on satellite systems.
The financial burden of GPS failure is also a serious consideration driving the innovation behind this device. In M Squared’s press release announcement, it was estimated that each day without GPS services in the United Kingdom would cost the country 1 billion pounds. Since it’s a self-contained system not reliant on external signals, a quantum accelerometer would not be at risk for these types of security or financial fallouts.
A close up of the quantum accelerator. | Credit: Imperial College London
Even without the consideration of electronic attacks and satellite failures, a much smaller version of this technology could overcome day-to-day problems with regular GPS use. Anyone who has ever used a map application in a city environment has likely experienced blockages from the buildings disrupting satellite signals. A quantum accelerator would calculate its position based on its high precision velocity measurements rather than GPS information, thus eliminating never-ending “recalculating” type errors that current mapping devices are prone to receive.
General accelerometers are already found in common devices like cell phones and video game controllers. Overall, they function by calculating changes in the velocity of an object (phone, controller, etc.) and that data is used for whatever its intended purpose. For location-driven applications, however, the measured position loses accuracy without feedback from external sources such as GPS. For example, after a few street turns (or less), a mapping application would need to confer with a satellite to recalculate the new position of the car in motion. The high precision of a quantum accelerometer does not have this limitation, thus eliminating the need for a GPS signal.
When atoms are cooled to ultra-cold levels, their quantum behavior emerges and can then be measured by a laser beam acting as a ruler. The team behind the quantum accelerometer device had already been developing other commercial quantum technologies prior to the current one, so when the need for arose for measuring and cooling atoms, a solution was already in place via the team’s universal laser system developed for gravity measurements. This laser both cools and measures the atoms involved in the accelerometer’s device’s movement calculations.
This quantum device is representative of the transition of quantum mechanics from the science laboratory to real-world applications. Besides navigational solutions, Professor Ed Hinds, Director of the Centre for Cold Matter at Imperial College London, described gravity measurements, mapping gravitational forces to look for minerals, and looking inside vehicles to diagnose problems as a few suggestions for other applications. “[The potential applications] …all come from the fantastic sensitivity and reliability that you can only get from these quantum systems.”
Watch the video below to see the quantum team tell more about the device.
Investor's Corner
Tesla ‘Model Q’ gets bold prediction from Deutsche Bank that investors will love
Tesla’s Model Q could be on the way soon, and a new note from Deutsche Bank thinks it will contribute to Q4 deliveries.
The Tesla “Model Q” has been in the rumor mill for the company for several years, but a recent note from Wall Street firm Deutsche Bank seems to indicate that it could be on its way in the near future.
This comes as Tesla has been indicating for several quarters that its development of affordable models was “on track” for the first half of 2025. The company did not say it would unveil the vehicles in the first half, but many are anticipating that more cost-friendly models could be revealed to the public soon.
Potential affordable Tesla “Model 2/Model Q” test car spotted anew in Giga Texas
The Deutsche Bank note refers to one of the rumored affordable models as the “Model Q,” but we’ve also seen it referred to as the “Model 2,” amongst other names. Tesla has not officially coined any of its upcoming vehicles as such, but these are more of a universally accepted phrase to identify them, at least for now.
The rumors stem from sentiments regarding Tesla’s 2025 delivery projections, which are tempered as the company seeks to maintain a steady pace compared to 2023 and 2024, when it reported 1.8 million deliveries.
Deutsche Bank’s analysts believe the deliveries could be around 1.58 million, but they state this is a cautious stance that could be impacted by several things, including the potential launch of the Model Q, which they believe will make its way to market in Q4:
“Looking at the rest of the year, we maintain a cautious stance on volume calling for 1.58m vehicle deliveries (-12% YoY) vs. consensus +1.62m, with the timing of Model Q rollout as the key swing factor (we now assume only 25k in Q4). In China, Tesla will introduce the Model Y L this fall (6 inch longer wheel base allowing for larger 3-row seating with six seats).”
Interestingly, the same firm also predicted that the Model Q would launch in the first half of the year based on a note that was released in early December 2024.
Those estimations came from a reported meeting that Deutsche Bank had with Tesla late last year, where it said it aimed to launch the Model Q for less than $30,000 and aimed for it to compete with cars like the Volkswagen ID.3 and BYD Dolphin.
Tesla’s Q2 Earnings Call is slated for this Wednesday and could reveal some additional details about the affordable models.
Elon Musk
Tesla preps to expand Robotaxi geofence once again, answering Waymo
Just days after Waymo responded to them, Tesla is preparing for a potentially massive expansion of the Robotaxi geofence.
Tesla is preparing to expand its Robotaxi geofence yet again, just days after Waymo responded to its initial broadening of the area.
Tesla launched its first expansion last week, less than a month after introducing Robotaxi rides in Austin.
The company opted for a very interesting shape for its geofence expansion, which was more of an indication that it could launch more rides in virtually any area of the city due to the new geofence it chose.
Waymo then responded to Tesla shortly after with an expansion of its own. After Tesla’s first expansion of its geofence, it had 42 square miles of Robotaxi-accessible travel region. This was larger than Waymo’s 37 square miles.
However, the Waymo expansion last week brought the company to a substantial 90 square miles of Austin:
Waymo responds to Tesla’s Robotaxi expansion in Austin with bold statement
Tesla appears to be ready to respond. Drone operator and Gigafactory Texas observer Joe Tegtmeyer spotted Tesla Robotaxi validation vehicles well west of downtown Austin in the area of Marble Falls, Texas.
This would significantly increase Tesla’s square mileage if it could manage to bring its geofence to that size:
🚨 We could see Tesla’s response to Waymo’s expansion in Austin very soon
Based on Tesla’s expansion last time, it’s safe to assume they can go to any area of Austin whenever they choose
It’s not a coincidence they chose, well, you know, the shape they did 🤣 https://t.co/xB92SQ1ntC
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 19, 2025
The two companies are not directly responding to one another with these expansions, but it appears that there is a significant amount of competition underway, which ultimately benefits the consumers.
Waymo has been operating in Texas since March from a fully public perspective, while Tesla is still slowly expanding its test size for the Robotaxi fleet on a nearly daily basis. Tesla launched Robotaxi rides to a handful of Early Access Program members on June 22.
Tesla is also expanding to other regions of the United States, particularly in Arizona and California. However, the Texas expansion is a priority currently, as it is the only region where Tesla has received approval to operate passenger rides in a driverless setting in the country.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk confirms awesome new features at Tesla Diner Supercharger
More details continue to be revealed about the Tesla Supercharger Diner as its opening seems to be imminent.
Elon Musk has confirmed a few new features that will be present at the Tesla Diner Supercharger in Los Angeles.
Musk confirmed these two new details as he revealed he recently ate at the Supercharger Diner. We also recently confirmed a few menu items as a soft launch has already occurred, and a public launch date appears to be within reach.
The new features were revealed by Tesla Joy on X. We shared the details, and Musk confirmed that these are, in fact, features of the Diner that Tesla owners will be able to enjoy.
Tesla reveals key detail of Supercharger Diner, but it’s bigger than you think
The Diner is not exclusive to Tesla owners, but these two features do require a Tesla for compatibility purposes.
Order Food from Your Car
As you pull into the Supercharger Diner, you can order any food item you want, including burgers, wings, fries, shakes, cookies, and more, directly from your vehicle.
A prompt will likely appear that will open a menu to the Supercharger Diner, allowing you to order food. An employee will bring the food out, that is, if Tesla decides to continue with a true and traditional 50s diner theme.
We get it, it’s not a groundbreaking feature. It’s still cool, convenient, and another advantage to visit the diner as a Tesla owner.
Movie Screen Audio Will Sync to Your Tesla
There are two massive movie screens that will play various entertainment options during your visit to the Supercharger Diner. There have been movie clips and even SpaceX launch highlights playing during recent drone flyovers at the location on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Instead of having to open your windows to hear the content on the screen, it will instead sync the audio and play directly in your vehicle through your car stereo speakers.
True
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 18, 2025
The Supercharger Diner has also appeared on the Tesla app for the first time, and is currently showing 80 stalls at the location:
🚨 The Tesla Diner is now showing up on the phone app.
80 Superchargers!!! pic.twitter.com/fdN2MzyZCg
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 18, 2025
Although the stalls are not yet active, the culmination of all the details we’ve learned over the past week about the Diner only points to one thing: an imminent grand opening.
Tesla has not yet confirmed a date for the Supercharger Diner’s opening, and Los Angeles building and construction permits also do not state a specific target date for opening.
It seems as if Tesla will reveal the date itself, potentially in the coming week, as it will report earnings on Wednesday, July 23.
Tesla ‘Model Q’ gets bold prediction from Deutsche Bank that investors will love
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