Ultracold Atom Sensor Array for Long-Range Inertial Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold atom inertial sensors face challenges in achieving both high sensitivity and long-range measurement, with pseudo-periodic signals causing indeterminacy and hybridization with conventional sensors failing to provide both high sensitivity and long-range measurement.
Innovation Solution
An ultracold atom measuring system with an assembly of interferometric sensors that spatially split a cloud of ultracold atoms into two states, displacing the traps along a trajectory, and applying interferometry sequences to measure physical magnitudes like acceleration and angular velocity, using a processing unit to control magnetic fields and microwave signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensitivity of the cold atom inertial sensor is increased, then measurement precision is improved, but the measurement range becomes limited (short-range)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides a single cold atom sensor into multiple independent cold atom sensors arranged in an array. Each sensor operates with high sensitivity for short-range measurements, while the collective array provides extended measurement range through spatial distribution and statistical processing of multiple measurements, thereby resolving the contradiction between sensitivity and measurement range.
2Length of moving object
If hybridization with conventional inertial sensors is performed, then measurement range is extended, but measurement precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple cold atom sensors into a unified measurement system where all sensors contribute to the same measurement process. By combining the outputs of multiple high-precision cold atom sensors through statistical methods and signal processing, the system achieves both extended measurement range and maintained high measurement precision, avoiding the precision loss associated with hybridization to conventional sensors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves high sensitivity and long-range measurement of accelerations and angular velocities, enabling precise inertial measurements suitable for embedded applications.
Implementation Method 1
each sensor of the assembly being an interferometric sensor configured to measure a physical magnitude using an interferometry sequence
Implementation Method 2
generate an initial trapping potential of a cloud of ultracold atoms, spatially split the trapped cloud in the initial potential into a first cloud of ultracold atoms in a first state, and a second cloud of ultracold atoms in a second state through the respective forming of a first atom trap for the first cloud and a second atom trap for the second cloud
Data Source
AI summary
An ultracold atom measuring system, the measuring system including an assembly of ultracold atom inertial sensors, each sensor of the assembly being an interferometric sensor configured to measure a physical magnitude by implementing an interferometry sequence, a processing unit configured, for at least one sub-assembly of sensors, to apply a respective interferometry sequence to each sensor of a sub-assembly of sensors, the implementation of the respective interferometry sequences by the at least one sub-assembly of sensors causing the sensors of the sub-assembly to measure the same physical magnitude following a travel trajectory when displaced varying, from one sensor of the sub-assembly to another sensor of the sub-assembly, by at least one trajectory-related parameter.