Navigating the Skies: Photonic Chips Revolutionize Drone Navigation in GPS Dead Zones

Researchers at the University of Rochester are developing photonic chips that could replace gyroscopes in drones, allowing them to navigate in areas where GPS signals are jammed or unavailable. By utilizing a quantum technique called weak value amplification, the scientists aim to achieve the same sensitivity level as bulk optical gyroscopes on small, handheld photonic chips. This advancement could revolutionize drone navigation as drones become smaller and more ubiquitous. The project, funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to implement weak value amplification on a tiny photonic chip with a high-quality factor ring resonator.