Chinese scientists have been conducting quantum experiments at various levels, including urban, long-distance, intercontinental, and space.
Now, they have achieved a breakthrough using a drone, paving the way for a future where this “unbreakable” encryption technology can be applied in the real world.
Researchers from Nanjing University and the University of Science and Technology of China conducted the world’s first quantum key distribution (QKD) experiment on a drone-based platform.
It demonstrated that mobile platforms, such as drones, are capable of performing more practical quantum tasks that require the ability to directly transmit individual photons to end users.
QKD is based on a physical property of quantum mechanics that makes it impossible to create an independent and identical copy of an arbitrary unknown quantum state, thus providing an “unbreakable” way to exchange encrypted messages between remote users.
The team established a low-loss, high-fidelity optical quantum link between a small multi-rotor drone in flight and a ground station 200 meters away.
The experiments were conducted in night and day conditions with average error rates of approximately 2.28% and 3.86%, respectively, according to a study published last week in the journal Physical Review Letters.
The results confirmed the feasibility and reliability of using unmanned platforms to perform practical photonics tasks.
According to the researchers, thanks to the ability to secretly distribute keys using a drone, we can expect wireless communication with increased security in a quantum approach between mobile network nodes that are networked.
They also expect to be able to use high-altitude, fixed-wing drones for large-scale QKD in the future, promising continuous, omnidirectional mobile quantum communications.
