From barely detectable signals to real-world impact: A Quantum Sensing Story

Some of the most powerful information around us moves quietly through walls, machines, and everyday spaces. Tiny variations in magnetic fields carry information about how systems behave, where we are, and what is happening beneath the surface. For years, these signals have remained largely out of reach. Today, a new generation of researchers at the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science (EDI) in Latvia is working to turn these invisible signals into something we can actually use. The story unfolding today feels very much about the future, something that fits not just in a lab, but in real systems, devices, and environments.

Their focus is on quantum sensing. Not in the abstract sense, but in a very tangible way: building sensors that can detect incredibly small changes in magnetic fields, even at room temperature. It all begins with a tiny imperfection in a diamond. Inside specially engineered diamonds, there are defects known as nitrogen-vacancy centres. These tiny structures respond to magnetic fields in a way that can be measured with remarkable precision. What makes this special is not just the sensitivity, it’s the possibility. A sensor like this could help locate objects indoors where GPS fails, reveal hidden structures in buildings, or even monitor how machines behave in real time.

Turning this idea into something usable is not simple. The first working prototype at EDI proved that the concept works. It combined lasers, electronics, and software into a single system that could detect and interpret magnetic signals. It was also clear that this was only the beginning. The system was complex, with many parts that needed to work together seamlessly. As the team pushed forward, they faced a familiar challenge in advanced research: how do you move from a working experiment to something reliable, scalable, and practical?

The answer led them in a new direction. To make the system more flexible and future-ready, the team began developing a second prototype built around a more adaptable architecture. At its core, there will be a RISC-V processor, helping coordinate everything happening inside the sensor. Instead of treating each part of the system separately, this new approach allows everything to work together more smoothly, like an orchestra following the same rhythm. It also opens the door to something bigger: sensors that are not just precise, but also efficient, compact, and ready for wider use.

What makes this story especially compelling is where the technology is going next. In one experiment, the team brought the sensor into an indoor environment to explore how magnetic fields change across space. Using a robot and a precise positioning system, they collected data point by point. At one moment, something unexpected appeared: a small anomaly in the magnetic field. It turned out to be caused by a structural element in the building. Something invisible, quietly shaping the environment, suddenly became visible through data.