U.S. Breeze Power Extends Partnership with SandboxAQ to Develop Next Generation AQNav Technology for GPS Defense
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U.S. Breeze Power Extends Partnership with SandboxAQ to Develop Next Generation AQNav Technology for GPS Defense

U.S. Breeze Power Extends Oath with SandboxAQ to Additional Build AQNav Generation to Cope with GPS Jamming and Spoofing

SandboxAQ, a leading provider of AI solutions, has recently announced that it has been awarded a SBIR Phase 2B Tactical Investment Increase (TACFI) by the U.S. Breeze Power (USAF) to further develop its AQNav magnetic navigation system. This funding increase will allow SandboxAQ and its collaboration partner AFWERX to explore alternative configurations of the core AQNav structure, including a pod-based attachment, for deployment on a wider range of aircraft platforms, including unmanned aerial systems.

AQNav is a revolutionary navigation technology that utilizes proprietary AI Massive Quantitative Models (LQMs), powerful quantum sensors, and the Earth’s crustal magnetic field to provide an unjammable, un-spoofable, all-weather, day/night, terrain-agnostic, passive, real-time navigation solution for military and commercial applications, without relying on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). This technology showcases the application of quantitative AI, which are models trained on quantitative data rather than language. SandboxAQ is a leader in Massive Quantitative Models (LQMs), utilizing them to extract the signal from the background magnetic noise for navigation.

This funding increase builds upon a previous Direct-to-Phase-II SBIR contract awarded to SandboxAQ in January 2023. To date, SandboxAQ’s AQNav technology has undergone extensive testing, logging over 200 aviation hours and more than 40 sorties across multiple regions on four different aircraft types. It has been successfully tested in two USAF exercises – Exercise Golden Phoenix and Exercise Mobility Guardian, demonstrating its effectiveness in challenging environments.

“The new TACFI contract exemplifies the strong collaborative relationship we have with the USAF and the continued confidence they have in our MagNav platform,” stated Luca Ferrara, General Manager of Navigation at SandboxAQ. “We are incredibly excited to expand AQNav’s capabilities and further demonstrate its ability to provide accurate navigation when GPS is unavailable or unreliable.”

“In an era of rapidly evolving technology and increasingly sophisticated adversaries, it is critical that the USAF maintain tactical air dominance in highly contested environments when adversaries employ robust GPS spoofing and targeted jamming,” stated Jen Sovada, President, International Public Sector, at SandboxAQ. “AQNav offers a highly precise and secure position and navigation solution that can withstand adversarial disruptions, making it suitable for the most demanding military applications.”

“AFWERX is expanding the MagNav capability through SandboxAQ to rapidly enable critical operations in denied environments,” stated Lt Col Josh Fehd, AFWERX Freedom High Area Eminent. “The rapid development and deployment of MagNav technology is imperative for the USAF to ensure a strategic advantage over our peer adversaries, enable mission continuity, and improve the safety of our warfighters and infrastructure when facing the denial or degradation of critical GPS systems.”

AQNav works by utilizing a powerful quantum magnetometer system to collect data from Earth’s crustal magnetic field, which displays geographically unique patterns similar to a human fingerprint. The system uses proprietary LQMs to compare this data against known magnetic maps, allowing the system to quickly and accurately determine its position. Due to the high sensitivity of foundational quantum sensors, AI algorithms are implemented to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, eliminating any mechanical, electrical, or environmental interference that may affect the system’s ability to determine its location.

Importantly, AQNav offers global availability and can be applied in all domains, including air, land, and sea. The system does not rely on visual ground features or satellite transmissions to function and is not affected by weather conditions. Additionally, AQNav’s passive technology emits minimal electronic signals, reducing the aircraft’s detectability. It operates at room temperature, requires minimal shielding, and has a compact form factor that can be integrated into a wide range of platforms, from multi-engine airliners to unmanned aerial vehicles.

Given the need for resilience to GPS vulnerabilities across various sectors, SandboxAQ is developing AQNav as a dual-use solution. In addition to the USAF, SandboxAQ is collaborating with several aerospace leaders to test and develop AQNav, including other allied governments as well as Boeing and Acubed – the Silicon Valley research and innovation center of Airbus.

For more information about AQNav, please visit https://www.sandboxaq.com/aqnav.

About SandboxAQ
SandboxAQ is a B2B company delivering AI solutions that address some of the world’s biggest challenges. The company’s Massive Quantitative Models (LQMs) provide significant advances in data sciences, financial services, navigation, cyber, and other sectors. The company emerged from Alphabet Inc. as an independent, growth capital-backed company in 2022, funded by prominent investors including T. Rowe Price, Eric Schmidt, Breyer Capital, Guggenheim Partners, Marc Benioff, Thomas Tull, Paladin Capital Group, and others. For more information, visit http://www.sandboxaq.com.

About AFRL
The Breeze Power Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Breeze Power. AFRL plays an integral role in understanding the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace power. With a team of more than 12,500 across nine technology grounds and 40 other operations worldwide, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit www.afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Breeze Power Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and startups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian, and contractor staff at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has conducted over 6,100 brand new words worth more than $4 billion to support the U.S. defense industry base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.

In conclusion, the collaboration between U.S. Breeze Power and SandboxAQ to further develop the AQNav generation is a significant step towards enhancing navigation capabilities in challenging environments where GPS jamming and spoofing are prevalent. This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize navigation systems across various sectors, providing a secure and reliable solution for critical operations.