TECH NEWS – Applicability from medicine to mobility

• Medical science: quantum sensors from Bosch may save lives in the future.
• Mobility: highly accurate navigation in the air, on land and on water.
• Miniaturization: Bosch is currently working on the integration of quantum sensors into chips.

Stuttgart, Germany – Quantum technology holds enormous potential, but much of that potential is currently a distant dream. After ten years of research in this area, Bosch now plans to work with its first pilot customers on specific applications in the medical and mobility industries over the next two years. The Bosch Quantum Sensing startup, founded in early 2022, currently has around 30 employees working on this. Bosch estimates that the annual global market potential for medical and mobility applications will reach around 5 billion by the middle of the next decade. One example of the future use of this technology is the sensors that record nerve impulses to control artificial limbs and to improve the quality of life of patients. “Quantum sensors created in medical technology fit perfectly with our ‘Designed for Life’ slogan. Our goal is to play a leading role with our technology by the end of the decade,” said Dr. Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Bosch.

The pepper is small, but strong: Bosch is at the forefront of miniaturization

When it comes to size, the technology company is already on the podium: in terms of measurement accuracy, the Bosch quantum sensor prototype is currently the smallest available. Its compact design offers significant advantages wherever space is at a premium – for example in industrial applications, vehicles, aircraft or even hospital emergency rooms. The smaller the sensor, the greater its advantages: smaller sensors are portable, cheaper to produce, and therefore more scalable. “Our goal is to miniaturize quantum sensors to the point where they can be integrated into a chip,” said Dr. Katrin Kobe, Bosch Quantum Sensing’s Sensor Commercialization Associate. All this could lead to further sensor applications.

Quantum sensors as potential life savers

In the field of medicine, Bosch quantum sensors could save lives in the future. By measuring the heart’s natural magnetic field and enabling simple, longer-term measurements, they can provide much more data than today’s electrocardiography (ECG). The EKG device is placed directly on the skin with electrodes, so if they slip, the measurements will be inaccurate. In addition, in an emergency, fitting the EKG device takes up valuable time. Quantum sensors, on the other hand, can also be integrated into clothes or mattresses. This not only speeds up diagnosis in the emergency room, but also makes monitoring at home simple and accurate. The possibility of non-contact early detection of atrial fibrillation – a cause of life-threatening stroke, heart failure and dementia – is now possible for the first time. With Bosch’s solution, early diagnosis with the help of quantum sensors can, in the best case, even lead to the prevention of a fatal stroke.

Extremely accurate navigation in air, land and water

In addition to medical technology, quantum sensors can also be used in the field of mobility. One example of this is navigation. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is susceptible to interference, while quantum sensors are resistant to external influences because they work by measuring the Earth’s unchanging magnetic field. This enables highly accurate navigation in the air, on land and on water. The technology also has significant additional advantages in the area of electromobility. In the future, quantum sensors will be used to precisely measure the magnetic field of the electric current, and thus to determine the exact charge level of the battery. The result would be a more reliable determination of the remaining travelable distance, which would allow better planning of trips.

Source: Press release