Once again we look back at notable events from the year past, where we saw the rise of AI, new space systems, GPS spoofing, quantum developments, and solar storms.
AI is Hungry
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was big news in 2024, not just for its enormous capability, but also for its voracious appetite for power and water. This AI boom is "accelerating the climate crisis," and one study estimates that AI searches use "30 times as much energy" as a normal search engine.
This is not dampening enthusiasm for AI, but it is forcing data centers to consider building their own nuclear power plants, as well as new computer and data center designs that include better timing. It may seem non-intuitive, but better synchronization improves the performance of distributed databases and prevents power surges caused by the processing of large language models.
The New Space Race
Space may be the Final Frontier, but like the American Frontier, a Gold Rush speeds up expansion.
There is a sudden realization that space has value - a lot of value - and is not just a playground for government bragging rights (see below).
New space systems are addressing the needs for global communications, exploration, imagery, and, of course, position, navigation and timing (PNT). As a natural side effect, it is also spurring the development of anti-satellite systems making space a contested battleground, and a trend, which is likely to accelerate, of government agencies relying more on innovative commercial space companies to own the skies.
Spoofing is the New Jamming
2024 was deemed the "The Year of GPS Jamming and Spoofing," but spoofing has now become the much bigger concern. Jamming is analogous to “yelling really loud” while spoofing is analogous to “mimicking somebody else’s voice." As such, jamming is easy to implement and detect, while spoofing is more dangerous because it moves the signal making it difficult to detect. Unfortunately, it has also gotten easier, leading to a 400% surge in reported spoofing incidents for commercial flights.
The reliance on GPS as a single point of failure for the modern world has spurred alternative PNT (Alt PNT) solutions, with the realization that innovation should come from the private sector.
The Acceleration of Quantum Investment
As we enter the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), quantum investment and developments also increased rapidly.
While quantum computers get all the headlines, people are starting to recognize the potential for quantum sensors and communications to solve the aforementioned GPS spoofing and jamming problems. It turns out quantum technologies are well-suited for next-generation Alt PNT systems that can leverage sensitive quantum position sensors, ultra stable clocks, and unspoofable time transfer using entangled photons (that's where we come in).
Solar Storms are Ramping Up
The Sun is also celebrating the new year with fireworks of its own, releasing a pair of strong X-ray flares and warnings of "a pair of Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CME)." This is a fitting start to a year that may be the maximum for the Sun's eleven year solar cycle (though some think Solar Maximum is behind us). These solar storms pose a threat to power grids, GPS and other RF signals, and may have been responsible for the “largest 'mass migration' of satellites in history.”
Fortunately, in the decade since the last Solar Maximum,early detection and preventive measures have been put into place so we can weather the next set of major solar storms "without any major serious consequences."
Last Week's Theme: How to Stop the Drone Invasion
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