GPS

Satellite navigation is a key technology for today’s society, allowing for global navigation on land, at sea and in the air. The technology depends upon accurate atomic clocks, which help us pinpoint our position to within a few metres.

Developed by the UK Quantum Technology hubs, modern atomic clocks have unprecedented accuracy losing less than 1 second in the lifetime of the universe. These clocks, if deployed on satellites or in ground-based navigation beacons, will allow for positioning to within a few centimetres – making driverless cars more likely to stay on the road.

These activities will help students understand the key principles behind satellite positioning; the limitations to its accuracy; and the potential for future improvement. They will use mathematical reasoning and hands-on interactive learning, while learning about future careers built upon cutting edge quantum technologies.