Quantum researchers in the University of Glasgow are developing a low-cost ultra-sensitive gravimeter with applications across a range of sectors from avionics to environmental monitoring.
Gravimeters create images using gravity and are used in fields such as civil engineering, energy, defence and environmental monitoring. They measure subterranean variations in density, to provide an indication of what lies beneath ground. However, until now gravimeters have been bulky and expensive, limiting their use.
QuantIC researchers have developed a stable, cheap and lightweight gravimeter ─ named Wee-G which used micro-electromechanical system technology, which is used in smartphone accelerometers.
The Wee-g is fabricated in the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, and was developed with industry support from Bridgeporth, QinetiQ, Schlumberger and Glasgow-based Clyde Space. Wee-g is expected to have an enormous impact on land gravity surveying in a number of sectors, owing to its low cost and high sensitivity.
QuantIC researchers are also working with Glasgow based Clyde Space, the world leading innovator and supplier of CubeSats and small satellite systems, on a number of projects to support the rapidly growing market for nanosatellites which is estimated to reach $30.1bn in the next 10 years.
One project is to develop a low light level communications and positioning system that will be able to operate at the few photon level, close to the quantum limit. The other project is to explore how QuantIC’s Wee-g can be incorporated into Clyde Space’s off-the-shelf Cubesats avionics suite to offer unrivalled sensitivity.
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