UBIQUT Pty Ltd, established by Out The Back (OTB) Ventures, and its university partner UNSW are developing low-cost organic quantum sensors that surpass the limitations of traditional magnetic field sensors. Funded by Defence Trailblazer’s Accelerating Sovereign Industrial Capabilities (ASIC) program, the project will develop a field deployable prototype for tactical sensing in challenging areas.
Quantum sensors are an emerging technology with the potential to enhance sensing capability in challenging contestable areas, such as undersea and space, where precision sensing approaches are not as developed as they are for land and air environments. At present, quantum sensors tend to be based on systems that require significant infrastructure such as cooling, which can limit their use cases.
The proposed project will produce prototypes based on organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), an emerging quantum sensing platform. The sensors will be made from electronic elements that are widely used in mobile phone displays, using scalable fabrication technologies.
The research undertaken at UNSW is being led by Chief Investigator, quantum physicist Professor Dane McCamey. “The project will address the challenge developing the quantum control hardware, electronics and software required to deploy the device in the field whilst keeping costs low,” said Professor McCamey.
Left to right: John Rock, Director at OTB Ventures, UNSW Research Fellow Dr Adrian Mena and Professor Dane McCamey.
Demonstrating a low-cost deployable quantum sensing technology is a critical step in driving new use cases relevant for Defence, such as in autonomous undersea vehicles for tactical sensing of marine threats, and a range of applications in space and other remote areas. Potential end users include sensor manufacturers and systems integrators, who will find value in the availability of new sensing modalities.
“The ability to deploy low-cost quantum sensors via autonomous undersea vehicles has the potential to change the way tactical sensing of marine threats is undertaken,” said Keong Chan, Managing Director at OTB Ventures. “This project provides a clear pathway to adopting this new technology, adding value to the defence industry sector.”
For more information, visit the OTB Ventures website.
