Quantum Magnetometry for Enhanced Sensing in Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Quantum magnetometry has emerged as a promising technique for revolutionizing sensing capabilities in various fields, including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). This abstract explores various methods of quantum magnetometry and their application to AUVs, focusing on its principles, challenges, and potential impacts. Quantum magnetometry leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to measure magnetic fields with high levels of sensitivity and precision. By utilizing the quantum properties of atomic systems, such as spin coherence and quantum superposition, quantum magnetometers can detect minute changes in magnetic fields, making them ideal for applications where high sensitivity is crucial. In the context of AUVs, quantum magnetometry offers several advantages over traditional sensing technologies. AUVs are deployed in diverse environments, including deep-sea exploration, marine surveillance, and underwater infrastructure inspection, where accurate detection and mapping of magnetic fields are essential for navigation, object detection, and environmental monitoring. However, traditional magnetometers often suffer from limited sensitivity, calibration requirements, susceptibility to noise, and bulky size, constraining the capabilities of AUVs. By integrating quantum magnetometers into AUVs, researchers aim to overcome these limitations and enhance their sensing capabilities. Quantum magnetometers, such as atomic vapor magnetometers (AVMs) and nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond among others, offer significant advantages compared to many traditional magnetometers. This may include heightened sensitivity that would enable AUVs to detect even weaker magnetic signals from underwater objects, geological formations, and natural phenomena with greater accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, quantum magnetometers exhibit fast response times and high spatial resolution, enabling AUVs to perform real-time mapping and localization tasks with high precision. These capabilities are particularly valuable for applications such as pipeline inspection, magnetic navigation (MagNav), and unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection and localization, where detailed mapping of magnetic anomalies is essential for decision-making and risk assessment. However, the integration of quantum magnetometers into AUVs presents several technical challenges. Miniaturization of quantum sensors without compromising performance is a significant hurdle, as AUVs require compact and lightweight payloads to maintain maneuverability and endurance. Additionally, mitigating environmental factors, such as temperature variations, pressure fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference via shielding or signal processing is crucial to ensure the reliability and stability of quantum magnetometry measurements in underwater environments. Power management can also be a challenge due to the limited capacity for onboard supplies, competing sensor needs, and mission duration requirements. Despite these challenges, recent advancements in nanofabrication, quantum optics, and signal processing techniques have paved the way for the development of compact and robust quantum magnetometers suitable for integration into AUVs. Collaborative efforts between physicists, engineers, and marine scientists have led to the successful deployment of prototype AUVs equipped with quantum magnetometry sensors in field experiments, demonstrating their potential for underwater applications. L3Harris is investigating NV center sensing technology for use in its Iver AUV to enhance multi-mission capability. To effectively operate across increasingly complex maritime environments, AUVs must be equipped with flexible, modular, and scalable technologies supporting multiple mission sets. This paper aims to introduce the reader to quantum magnetometers and their potential impact on underwater sensing applications. Moreover, to introduce the development of a novel NV center magnetometer in a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) package as a first step towards evaluation and integration onto an AUV. A future paper will provide in-depth study results. In summary, quantum magnetometry offers a potential for enhancing the sensing capabilities of AUVs, enabling them to perform complex tasks with unprecedented precision and efficiency. Continued research and development efforts are necessary to address technical challenges and optimize the integration of quantum magnetometers into AUV platforms, unlocking new opportunities for underwater exploration, monitoring, and surveillance.