MuPS-1 and MuPS-2
Accurate positioning is crucial in many fields. However, traditional satellite navigation systems fail in environments where radio signals cannot penetrate, such as underground and underwater. Our two MuPS projects address this challenge by developing a passive and wireless “muometric navigation system” prototype. It leverages the unique properties of muons: their high speed, deep penetration, and continuous natural flux at and through Earth’s surface.
In MuPS-1, a prototype system was deployed and tested in the Arctic waters of Lake Kilpisjärvi. It clearly demonstrated the feasibility of using muons for underwater positioning. MuPS-2 extended these trials underground, to the tunnels of Pyhäsalmi mine, Europe’s deepest base metal mine. Again, the devices successfully pinpointed locations using muon triangulation.
These tests validate muon-based navigation as a viable solution for GPS-denied environments, with potential applications in, for example, underwater exploration, mining, and tunneling.
- Project duration: 2022-2023
