量子導航技術在英國鐵路取得重大突破

量子導航技術在英國鐵路取得重大突破

徐紀康 提供素材

英國鐵路在量子導航技術研發領域邁出關鍵一步，專為鐵路網研發、可超高精度定位列車位置的新型導航系統取得重要進展。

量子慣性導航技術采用超高靈敏度傳感器，能夠捕捉運動與旋轉中的極細微變化。與GPS等衛星導航系統不同，該技術不依賴外部信號，即便在隧道、密集建筑區域或信號受干擾的環境中，仍可提供高穩定性定位。

現有軌道旁固定定位設施安裝與維護成本高昂，且易受環境破壞、設備故障影響。量子導航技術有望成為其未來替代方案，建成后將實現更低成本、更可靠、更抗干擾的定位系統。

在該研發項目中，用于鐵路系統的量子慣性導航系統（RQINS）在全球范圍內首次完成實車測試。

2026年3月3日，該系統搭載于英國GTR的運營列車上，在倫敦市中心與韋林花園市之間線路運行，獲取真實運營數據，用于評估量子定位技術在國家鐵路網實際環境中的表現，為后續研發提供支撐。

這一里程碑成果基于英國國防部及倫敦交通局此前的相關研究，標志著鐵路量子傳感技術研發走出了一大步。

該研發項目由專業聯盟推進，MoniRail牽頭，聯合倫敦帝國理工學院、薩塞克斯大學、英國奎奈蒂克集團（QinetiQ）、博敦咨詢（PA Consulting）及英國國家物理實驗室共同開展，并獲得英國創新署與英國科學、創新與技術部（DSIT）支持。項目由英國鐵路集團戰略創新技術機構GBRX牽頭統籌，旨在加速戰略性技術落地應用，提升客運與貨運鐵路的服務水平。

GBRX董事總經理圖菲克·馬克努克表示：

1、在復雜的鐵路網絡中研發新技術，是推動前沿技術轉化為實際運營能力的關鍵。

2、量子傳感是英國政府重點布局的前沿技術領域。鐵路作為國內最復雜的運營系統之一，為這類技術的研發與規模化應用提供了絕佳平臺，其成果不僅服務鐵路，還可向外拓展。

3、該項目正式開啟量子定位技術對鐵路運行模式的顛覆性重塑研究。未來，它可降低對高成本軌道旁定位系統的依賴，同時為信號控制、運營效率提升、路網規劃、設備狀態監測及更智能化的鐵路運營提供全新能力。

4、本次測試是研發進程中早期但至關重要的一步，也彰顯了政府、學界與產業界協同合作，能夠有效加速量子通信這一前沿技術的發展。

原文=>

Step forward taken in quantum navigation technology for rail

Britain’s railway has taken a major step in the development of quantum navigation technologies, with new systems designed to measure train position with extreme precision now being advanced for the national rail network.

Quantum inertial navigation uses ultra-sensitive sensors capable of detecting minute changes in motion and rotation. Unlike satellite-based navigation systems such as GPS, it does not rely on external signals, meaning it could provide highly resilient positioning even in environments where satellite signals are unavailable, including tunnels, dense infrastructure or areas affected by interference.

The technology is being developed as a potential future alternative to fixed trackside positioning infrastructure, which can be costly to install and maintain and are vulnerable to environmental disruption or equipment failures. Once developed, quantum will enable a lower cost, more reliable, more resilient system.

As part of this development programme, a Rail Quantum Inertial Navigation System (RQINS) has now been tested on a mainline railway for the first time anywhere in the world. The system was carried on a Great Northern train operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) between central London and Welwyn Garden City on Tuesday 3 March, providing real-world data to help understand how quantum positioning technologies perform within the operational environment of a national railway network to inform its development.

This milestone builds on work undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and on Transport for London’s network and represents the next step in developing quantum sensing technologies for use on heavy rail.

The development programme is being progressed through a specialist consortium led by MoniRail, working with Imperial College London, the University of Sussex, QinetiQ, PA Consulting and the National Physical Laboratory, with support from Innovate UK and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

This development is convened by GBRX, the strategic innovation and technology body for Great British Railways, to accelerate the adoption of strategic technologies that improve the railway for passengers and freight.

Toufic Machnouk, managing director of GBRX, commented: “Developing new technologies within the complexity of a railway network is essential to understanding how frontier technologies can be translated into operational capability.

“Quantum sensing is one of the UK Government’s frontier technological priorities. Railways, as one of the country’s most complex operational systems, provide a powerful platform for developing and scaling these capabilities for rail and beyond.

“This programme begins the process of understanding how quantum positioning could fundamentally reshape how railways work. In the future, it could reduce reliance on costly trackside positioning systems while enabling new capabilities for signalling, improved operational performance, network planning, enhanced condition monitoring and more intelligent railway operations.

“This test represents an early but important step in that development journey and demonstrates how collaboration between government, academia and industry can accelerate the development of frontier technologies.”

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