Secure CubeSat-to-CubeSat Communication using Quantum Key Distribution for Information Updates and Risk Alerts

With the growing use of CubeSats for various applications, such as remote sensing, communication, and scientific research, the need for secure communication between them has become crucial. CubeSat to CubeSat communication is becoming increasingly important for maintaining the security and reliability of CubeSat missions in modern day. CubeSats often carry sensitive information that must be protected from unauthorized access or interception and hence vulnerable to physical and cyber-attacks that could compromise their security. In this paper, we propose a system for secure CubeSat-to-CubeSat communication using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). It consists of a photon source, polarization manipulation device for quantum state preparation and photon detectors with the capability of quantum state measurement. This system could enable CubeSats to update each other in real-time on conditions and status, allowing for rapid response to potential risks. Apart from this, it also allows CubeSats to operate independently in space without relying on ground stations or other infrastructure for communication. In the method, the information to be shared is first encoded into binary signals, and then the sender CubeSat (Alice) generates a stream of single photons with binary codes represented by randomly chosen polarization states of photons and sends them to the receiver CubeSat (Bob). The receiver CubeSat measures the polarization of each photon and communicates its measurements back to Alice. Alice and Bob can then use the measurement results to establish a shared secret key. As the polarization state of a photon is inherently random, any attempt to eavesdrop on the communication will inevitably alter the state of the photons, which can be detected by Alice and Bob. By using this method, CubeSats in a network can exchange information securely and effectively, ensuring the reliability and stability of the CubeSat network

Quantum Computing for Space: Exploring Quantum Circuits on Programmable Nanophotonic Chips

Quantum circuits are the fundamental computing model of quantum computing. It consists of a sequence of quantum gates that act on a set of qubits to perform a specific computation. For the implementation of quantum circuits, programmable nanophotonic chips provide a promising foundation with a large number of qubits. The current study explores the possible potential of quantum circuits implemented on programmable nanophotonic chips for space technology. In the recent findings, it has been demonstrated that quantum circuits have several advantages over classical circuits, such as exponential speedups, multiple parallel computations, and compact size. Apart from this, nanophotonic chips also offer a number of advantages over traditional chips. They provide high-speed data transfer as light travels faster than electrons. Photons require less energy to transmit data than electrons, so nanophotonic chips consume less power than conventional chips. The bandwidth of nanophotonic chips is greater than that of traditional chips, so they can transfer more data simultaneously. They can be easily scaled to smaller sizes with higher densities and are more robust to extreme temperatures and radiation than classical chips. The focus of the current study is on how quantum circuits could revolutionize space technology by providing faster and more efficient computations for a variety of space-related applications. All the in-depth analysis is carried out while taking currently available state-of-the-art technologies into consideration

Contextual Proactive Suggestions for Custom Commands for Vehicle Components

Many vehicle components that are sourced from OEMs offer interactive capabilities that enable users to control them using mechanisms such as a voice-based virtual assistant via a spoken command. However, users typically lack awareness of the existence of the commands, thus failing to use them despite their availability. Mechanisms for facilitating proactive and contextually opportune discovery of interactive control options are typically limited to first party components. This disclosure describes techniques that enable OEMs to facilitate user discovery of their custom interactive capabilities by registering the commands and associated metadata with the vehicle platform. With user permission, local contextual information is analyzed to provide suggestions for OEM commands at opportune times based on triggering rules. OEMs can contribute to defining the triggering rules. The user can issue the command in any convenient manner, such as tapping or speaking which is then executed on the OEM component. The proactive and contextually relevant assistance can make the driving experience safer and more comfortable while enhancing the knowledge of vehicle capabilities and how they can be controlled through a virtual assistant