MCLAREN: Miniaturised Cold Atom Gravimeter for Space Applications

该项目旨在开发一种紧凑型冷原子重力仪，并确定开发空间可展开系统的途径。冷原子方法提供的基于空间的高精度重力测量是一项新兴的关键使能技术，适用于一系列依赖地球观测的市场。此外，重力测量在陆地上有着广泛的应用，从地下测量到寻找石油和矿藏。尽管冷原子重力仪的精度已经得到证明，但与目前的重力仪相比，最突出的缺点是系统的尺寸、重量和功率(SWAP)特性。交换要求被视为更广泛采用冷原子重力仪的关键障碍，尽管与现有解决方案相比有许多优势。该项目将小型化、紧凑型和空间可展开的子系统的路线结合在一起，以产生一个紧凑型冷原子重力仪演示器。2016年，洪水造成了16亿GB的损失，准确的洪水预测本可以避免其中的一些成本和相关的失去家园的压力。地下基础设施的准确位置可以减少交通拥堵，交通拥堵每年造成英国46亿英镑的损失。

The project aims to develop a compact cold atom gravimeter and identify routes to development of a space deployable system. Space based high precision gravimetry as offered by cold atom approaches is an emerging key enabling technology for a range of markets dependent on Earth Observation. Furthermore gravimetry has a broad number of terrestrial applications from underground surveying to locating oil and mineral deposits. Although the levels of precision of cold atom gravimetry have been demonstrated, in comparison to current gravimeters the most prominent drawback is the systems size weight and power (SWaP) characteristics. SWaP requirements are seen as the key roadblock in the wider adoption of cold atom gravimeters, despite having a multitude of advantages over existing solutions. This project brings together routes to miniaturised, compact and space deployable subsystems to yield a compact cold atom gravimeter demonstrator. In 2016 flooding caused £1.6bn of damage, and accurate flood prediction could have avoided some of these costs and associated stress of losing homes. Accurate location of underground infrastructure could reduce traffic congestion that costs the UK £4.6bn per year.