Q-DOS light: Quantum key distribution for Drones with Optimal Size, weight and power

近年来，无人机（UAV）的商业应用大幅增加，但其应用受到限制，部分原因是无法将敏感数据安全地传回地面。由于计算能力的进步，当前的加密方法变得越来越不安全。由空中客车公司领导的Q-DOS light项目（具有最佳尺寸重量和功率的无人机量子密钥分配）将通过提供具有高度安全的量子加密和窃听检测的低重量，高速自由空间光通信系统来解决这个快速增长的问题。该系统将在飞行中使用小型无人机（7公斤以下）与地面站进行通信，因此必须使用新颖的集成量子设备，以满足具有挑战性的尺寸，重量和功率（SWaP）要求。一旦得到证实，这项技术将成为未来飞机和航天器系统安全通信有效载荷的重要组成部分。

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have seen a huge increase in commercial uptake in recent years, but their applications have been limited, in part by the inability to securely communicate sensitive data back to the ground. Current encryption methods are becoming increasingly insecure due to advances in computing capability. Project Q-DOS light (Quantum key distribution for Drones with Optimal Size weight and power), led by Airbus, will solve this rapidly growing problem by delivering a low-weight, high-speed free-space optical communication system with highly secure quantum encryption and eavesdropping detection. The system will be demonstrated in flight using a small drone (under 7kg) communicating with a ground-station and will therefore have to use novel, integrated, quantum devices in order to meet challenging Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) requirements. Once proven, this technology will become an essential building block of secure communication payloads for future aircraft and spacecraft systems.