ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL have entered a strategic partnership to develop resilient navigation solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) operating in environments where GPS is degraded or unavailable.
The collaboration focuses on integrating ANELLO’s Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG) technology with Q-CTRL’s Ironstone Opal quantum magnetic navigation capabilities. This integration creates a multi-layered Quantum Navigation Solution (QNS) designed to provide continuous, bounded positioning estimates that do not degrade over the course of a mission. By combining silicon photonics-based inertial sensing with quantum-powered magnetic map matching, the companies aim to provide a critical backup to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
Reliability in satellite navigation has become a significant concern across both defense and commercial sectors. Vulnerabilities such as jamming and spoofing pose a documented $1B daily threat in the United States, impacting logistics, transport, and military operations. Recent disruptions in the Persian Gulf have further highlighted the challenges faced by maritime and aerial platforms when GNSS signals are compromised.
Dr. Mario Paniccia, Co-Founder and CEO of ANELLO Photonics, commented, “Reliable navigation is fundamental to autonomy, safety, and mission assurance. By combining ANELLO’s proven SiPhOG-based inertial sensing with Q-CTRL’s groundbreaking Ironstone Opal quantum navigation technologies, we are exploring a powerful new architecture designed to deliver resilient positioning even when GPS is unavailable or compromised.”
The initiative represents the first time these two specific technological approaches have been integrated to scale quantum navigation solutions. As electronic warfare evolves and the use of autonomous systems expands, the ability to operate without a constant GPS signal is becoming a standard requirement for next-generation mobility and mission-critical platforms.
Prof Michael J. Biercuk, CEO and Founder of Q-CTRL, added, “Our focus at Q-CTRL is on making quantum technologies useful in the real world. ANELLO has impressed us with their focus on enabling real-world missions for advanced autonomous platforms, and we’re excited to combine our technologies to deliver the most advanced capabilities to our customers and the warfighters who keep us safe.”
