It appeared in the specialized press at the beginning of November. article that Russian scientists from the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Physical, Technical and Radiological Engineering Measurements (VNIIFTRI) of Rosstandart have created a new positioning system based on the measurement of the difference of gravitational potentials.
The article says that the new system will be able to complement the existing GPS and GLONASS positioning systems, which are not so accurate in the polar regions, and subsequently replace them, at least in the north of our country.
Correspondent IA Krasnaya Vesna asked a communications engineer Alexander Khoruzhy comment on the development of Russian scientists from the point of view of broader application perspectives.
IA Krasnaya Vesna: Alexander, are we about to create an alternative navigation system? How does it work? Can anything be said now about its accuracy?
Alexander Khoruzhy: Yes, such a system will be created. In the future, the location accuracy will be several centimeters. This depends on the accuracy and stability of the frequency and time standards used in gravimeters. So far, judging by the 2021 RAS report on quantum technologies, portable systems are still very far from the size of modern chips and the stability is certainly worse than that of stationary systems with a stability of 10⁻¹⁷ 10 ⁻¹⁸. Wearable systems with highly stable clocks (oscillators with stability slightly less than 10⁻¹⁶) were the size of a shoebox in 2021. I think they are smaller now.
As for the principles of his work, a year and a half ago in the magazine “Science and Technology” a fairly detailed description article about this theme. In short, the principle is based on the use of information about the curvature of the Earth’s surface. The fact is that any point on the Earth’s surface is under the influence of gravity (which consists of the force of gravity and the centrifugal force of the Earth’s rotation), and this force is at least slightly different for each point.
If these values are measured and processed using modern computer technology (which is what our scientists are doing now), then, based on knowledge of gravitational characteristics, it is possible to create a map that will allow determining the location not only on the surface of the Earth, but also in the air and under water.
IA Krasnaya Vesna: What are the prospects for using this system when believing in high-precision Russian weapons guidance systems?
Alexander Khoruzhy: Of course, like any other new technology, it will be used primarily for military purposes. And also in the field of prospecting and mining, gravitational anomalies indicate their presence.
IA Krasnaya Vesna: In this sense, the question is: what resistance will said system have to the interference created by electronic warfare (EW)?
Alexander Khoruzhy: This autonomous system is not susceptible to existing electronic interference techniques. So far no one has been able to create gravitational field generators (capable of disrupting the Earth’s field).
IA Krasnaya Vesna: Please clarify.
Alexander Khoruzhy: Why can existing systems be eliminated? Because they use an artificial electromagnetic field created by satellites. And here is the principle of using the Earth’s natural gravitational field. Not related to electromagnetic waves. In the future, of course, they will make some kind of GRB (gravity combat) system, but it is not yet clear how to implement it technically.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.