The Quantum Car

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum-enhanced vehicle location verification system that significantly improves security and safety for driverless cars by integrating quantum information with classical vehicular communication.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum-based location verification framework for driverless vehicles, combining classical and quantum information for enhanced security.

Findings

Quantum location verification reduces error probability beyond classical limits

Quantum memory timescales are critical for implementation

Integration of quantum and classical communication enables new vehicular security features

Abstract

I explore the use of quantum information as a security enabler for the future driverless vehicle. Specifically, I investigate the role combined classical and quantum information can have on the most important characteristic of the driverless vehicle paradigm - the vehicle location. By using information-theoretic verification frameworks, coupled with emerging quantum-based location-verification procedures, I show how vehicle positions can be authenticated with a probability of error simply not attainable in classical-only networks. I also discuss how other quantum applications can be seamlessly encapsulated within the same vehicular communication infrastructure required for location verification. The two technology enablers required for the driverless quantum vehicle are an increase in current quantum memory timescales (likely) and wide-scale deployment of classical vehicular communication infrastructure (underway). I argue the enhanced safety features delivered by the `Quantum Car' mean its eventual deployment is inevitable.