The future of navigation and measurements is arguably going to become an extremely profitable market. With the development of quantum sensors that detect changes in the world from electric and magnetic fields to other natural energy sources, measurements and navigations are going to become a lot more accurate.

This is a game-changing technology that will help the world in a wide variety of aspects; medicine, military and transport taking the reins for leading development.

Our current technology helps us with space exploration, ensuring our astronauts get to the correct locations, but they rely on data that can be affected by external matters. Think about the repercussions of missing Mars by thousands of miles simply by a millimetre bias in data.

QS is the key to unlocking the advancement of measurement and navigation, relying on the world’s matter, atoms and natural magnetic fields – there is nothing more accurate that the natural world itself.

From geolocation to new-found medical diagnosis, below we’ll explore the market growth, opportunities and challenges of Quantum Sensing.

Market Growth and Impact in APAC

The quantum sensing market is growing rapidly, with the Asian Pacific region leading the way.

A key driver of this growth is substantial government funding, as countries battle to gain an economic and military advantage over one another with the development of this new technology.

Currently, the APAC market is growing exponentially with the maximum ‘Compound Average Growth Rate' (CAGR) across the globe. Both China and India have become heavy investors in the process and look to be continuing their investment as their economies continue to develop.

Additionally, various industry segments working in end-user verticals globally are seeking to integrate NV-based ensemble quantum sensors into commercial chip packages.

An NV centre in a diamond can be used as a quantum sensor that works to image a magnetic field with nanoscale resolution. Within medicine, this could possibly be the future of microscopic analysis, providing even clearer information regarding the smallest of details. It is the development of this within commercial chip packages that gives access to many industries that use nanoscale magnetic imaging.

NVs have been proven to be powerful QS especially for detecting magnetic, electric and temperature signals. It is the atomic size of NV that truly makes it groundbreaking in the use of science, especially with nanoscale magnetic-field imaging.

Architecture, medicine, and even geo-location services can all utilise this technology in such a small form factor as it provides incredibly microscopic information about length scales, detecting inhomogeneity (uniform structures) and any other interactions of materials systems.

This is a critical step towards quantum sensing technology being made available across a range of sensor devices, in different industries.

Quantum sensors can replace conventional sensors in a variety of applications, spanning multiple industries. Some examples include:

• Locating gas & oil – the preciseness of measurements allows geologists to give more accurate pinpointing of gas and oil reserves underground.
• Sensing earthquakes – they are incredibly sensitive devices, which make them perfect for detecting even the most nano of signals.
• Aiding with construction site surveys – with accurate readings, measurements and magnetic-field imaging construction sites can quickly determine their strategies.
• Predicting & measuring weather changes – One company, QuantIC is using quantum sensing to detect weather changes, specifically for the use of tackling climate change.

George Tuckwell from RSK described one way in which QS was being used was to detect mine shafts. He said, “There are thousands of mine shafts in the UK, often two metres or less across, and if the top of the shaft is five metres or more below ground then they can’t currently be detected.”

The Obstacles and Challenges of Quantum Sensors

Arguably, quantum sensing is the future. Simply, they rely on nature (atomic structures, magnetic fields) rather than other constantly evolving data inputs, to work accurately. But they are only just in their experimental stage, and early investment will prove their future uptake.

But as with any new technology, there is a huge cost involved. New QS technology is much more compact, gives out a higher variety of data and can provide much more detail. However, it is all of these components that increase the cost - not to mention the high costs of research and development. With new technology comes new challenges regarding the ability of the workforce to adapt to use it. End-user companies will need to invest significant sums of money for its integration, which can increase costs and be a major limitation on the Asian Pacific market's growth. It is exactly this cost with integration and the set-up time that could be pushing potential investors away.

It is this particular notion of time that is severely holding back the progression of quantum sensors. When investors put their money into new technology, they want to see results - and quickly. But with quantum technology, quick and perfect results are hard to achieve. This lack of early-on and immediate success can deter future investors. Without the funding, there will be a decline in research and development into QS.

In short, the consistent challenges that arise with QS are:

• Large set-up and integration costs
• Requires large systems
• Extremely complex technology that lacks understanding
• Currently in the experimental stage
• Requires extremely expensive optical components

Emerging Product Trends and Market Opportunities

The market for quantum sensors is rapidly evolving, with new sensor types such as AMR (Anisotropic Magneto Resistors), GMR (massive Magneto-Resistance), SDT (Spin-dependent Tunnelling), and GSR (Geometric Spin-dependent Tunnelling) emerging. These new sensor types are having a significant impact on the market and are driving innovation. However, the most promising trend in the market is the use of quantum sensors in space exploration and associated research. The use of atomic clocks, such as NASA's DSAC and Q-Ctrl's quantum sensor for Mars, is expected to drive significant advancements in precision and navigation in space.

The wide range of applications for QS, combined with the emergence of new sensor types and increasing investment in the technology, presents significant market opportunities. However, obstacles and challenges such as a lack of awareness, high installation and maintenance costs, and high R&D costs must be addressed for the market to continue to grow.

By 2027, the quantum sensor market will be growing continually to a CAGR of 16.8%, at around $565 million. With its incredible developments in bioimaging, navigation, infrastructure surveying and monitoring the environment - there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of it over the next few years.

This growth can only be attributed to the ever-increasing need for precision, especially in measurements that aid space navigation, time tracking and location data and medical imaging. Greater accuracy brings greater and more precise results that can increase productivity and limit the amount of bias at play.

In a project funded by GOV.UK and PA Consulting, the smallest quantum navigation system prototype was created. This defeats many of the challenges posed by many other early investors in the market. With such advancement being made so quickly, the medical and military defence market opportunity will be dramatically increased over the next five years. Within these five years, Research and Development paired with successful and loyal investors will enable the following industries to make extreme advancements:

• Military
• Medical
• Architecture
• Space Exploration

Uses of Quantum Sensors

QS can enable faster, more accurate, and more reliable geolocation than is possible with today’s satellite-dependent global positioning system (GPS) devices, with far fewer limitations.

But before understanding how one can utilise quantum sensors, we must first explore the different types of sensors:

AMR (Anisotropic Magneto Resistors)

Using Permalloy, 80% nickel and 20% iron, AMRs detect resistance changes proportionally when it is presented with a magnetic field. When you couple this with an analog circuit, the resistance can be converted to a voltage. And the voltage is directly proportional to the original current.

Aceinna is one company that produces these sensors, using them specifically within server farms, telecom power supplies, EV charging, inverters and motor control. The exceptional design allows for additional accuracy, eliminating any sensitivity that could cause stray, whilst also negating any use of additional filters as its noise level is extremely low. It provides accurate voltage information that is specifically beneficial with the rise in the popularity of EVs.

GMR (Massive Magneto-Resistance)

When we think of solid-state magnetic field sensors, there are typically two options: AMR or GMR. But it is the robust reaction of GMRs to magnetic fields that make them much more obvious to detect at least by 10%.

GMRs tend to be used to read data in various devices such as:

• Hard disk drives: where information is encoded using magnetic domains
• Spin-valve sensors: increased storage capacity

With the development of GMR sensors, companies can pack far more information onto disk drives as the sensitivity of the GMRs is becoming increasingly more efficient at reading bits of information. IBM was the first major player as they were involved in its discovery, with hard drives being commercialized worldwide using this technology. Further developments could allow for an increase in disk drive space, making computing far more powerful.

SDT (Spin-dependent Tunnelling)

SDT is particularly interesting when it comes to storage technology and magnetic sensors. Its use within magnetic tunnel junctions has created a vast amount of intrigue and has led to a large amount of research being dedicated to its study.

Mainly, its use is within non-volatile random-access memory – essentially, it retains data without any applied power.

Advantages include:

• Incredible performance compared to other non-volatile memory products.
• Supports a variety of applications that require quick read-and-write operations and those that use non-volatile memories. One example of its use is antilock braking which impacts both commercials and governmental transport systems.
• Requires a lot less power – guaranteed 10 years.

GSR (Geometric Spin-dependent Tunnelling)

Geometric Spin-dependent Tunnelling (GST) is a phenomenon that occurs in magnetic materials and involves the tunnelling of electrons between magnetic layers due to the presence of an energy barrier. GST has several practical applications, including in the field of data storage, where it is used in magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) devices. In these devices, GST allows for fast and efficient data storage and retrieval and is considered a promising technology for replacing traditional flash memory in the future. Additionally, GST has been proposed for use in various spintronic devices, such as magnetic sensors, quantum computing, and microwave oscillators.

Other important uses include:

1. It can provide doctors with more detailed and accurate medical diagnostic images at a lower cost and with fewer potential side effects for patients.
2. It can provide better, safer autonomous navigation of vehicles on the ground, in the air, and at sea – even in high-traffic areas and around unexpected obstacles,
3. More accurate and less vulnerable guidance systems in space, underwater, and in the increasing number of zones overwhelmed by radiofrequency (RF) signals.
4. It can give reliable detection, imaging, and mapping of underground environments from transit tunnels, sewers, and water pipes to ancient ruins, mines, subterranean habitats and deeper,
5. More active sensing of gravitational changes and tectonic shifts that can forewarn or trigger avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, or climate change activities.

One of the most exciting areas of application for QS is space exploration, and NASA is a leading player in the use of quantum sensing technology.

NASA's Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) is a prime example of how quantum sensors are being used to improve navigation and precision in space. According to NASA, the DSAC is "a small, ultra-precise mercury-ion atomic clock that will fly on a future mission to demonstrate a new way to navigate spacecraft using atomic clock technology". This technology will enable spacecraft to navigate using ultra-precise timekeeping, rather than relying on radio signals from Earth.

If a traditional sensor is even a few millimetres off complete accuracy, then space exploration could take a significantly dangerous turn. The precision of QS will ensure that flights finish in the correct location, rather than hundreds of thousands of miles away from where they’re supposed to be.

Australian start-up Q-CTRL is also an early user in implementing quantum sensing techniques. They are developing a quantum sensor that will eventually be sent to Mars, providing more accurate and reliable measurements of the planet's environment.

According to SpaceNews, "Q-CTRL sensor will be able to measure temperature, pressure, magnetic field and gravity, among other things, and will also be able to detect the presence of water and other volatile compounds".

Once complete, this could begin a new era of space exploration. The data that the quantum sensors can pick up and analyse is far more precise and wide-ranging - who knows what NASA could find, but one thing for certain is - with QS, we’re a lot closer to new information.

Conclusion

Overall, the quantum sensors industry, especially in the Asian Pacific regions, is rapidly growing and presents significant market opportunities. As technology continues to advance and new applications are discovered, the potential for QS to change the way we measure, navigate, study, explore, see, and interact with the world is limitless.

Those companies that can utilise this technology will need to think about how they will collect information from these sensors, to draw out maximum efficiency.

Do companies want to go completely QS or adopt a hybrid model? And how will they collect that data?

What we do know is that heavy research and development are going into quantum technology. It will be here in the future, just how soon is the only question.