At this year's VivaTech in Paris, Airbus presented its latest research into how quantum sensing, artificial intelligence, and sensor fusion could fundamentally change the way aircraft move through increasingly congested skies and airports. Jonathan Rigaud, head of the company's Optimate demonstrator project, outlined a vision where planes rely less on single-point navigation systems like GPS and more on a robust mesh of onboard sensors and intelligent algorithms.
Airbus expects the number of aircraft in service to double over the next two decades, while airport infrastructure will not keep pace. That means planes will have to operate in denser environments, from crowded taxiways to more unpredictable weather linked to climate change. “We need to find different ways to think, use the technology we have to overcome those complexities,” Rigaud told European Pulse at VivaTech.
Three Goals for Smarter Flying
The Optimate project, which Rigaud leads, has three main objectives: protecting an aircraft's route, optimising ground and flight operations, and helping pilots maintain situational awareness in poor visibility such as heavy rain or fog. To achieve this, Airbus is testing radar, LiDAR, cameras, computer vision, and AI to detect obstacles and assess risks. “AI can help identify whether something is familiar or needs to be avoided,” Rigaud said.
One area of focus is taxiing—the phase when aircraft move around the airport before take-off or after landing. Rigaud noted that planes now spend more than 20 minutes on average “rolling and not flying,” making ground movement a prime target for efficiency gains. Airbus is testing ways for aircraft, airlines, and air traffic control to share information more effectively, choose better taxi routes, and avoid burning fuel unnecessarily. That could include delaying engine start-up based on real-time traffic data. “The goal is to be as optimised as possible,” he added.
Airbus has conducted over 400 hours of testing using a truck-like demonstrator—described as an “aircraft on wheels”—at complex airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, which has more than 115 kilometres of taxiways. “Now we have tested it over the last two years, and we start to have a glance at what we need to put in our current and future aircraft,” Rigaud said.
Navigating Without GPS Alone
Another critical area is navigation resilience. Recent geopolitical tensions have highlighted risks such as GPS jamming and spoofing, increasing the need for backup systems. Rigaud emphasised that GPS is not the only method aircraft use today; planes also rely on inertial systems. Airbus is now testing quantum sensing, which uses quantum physics to measure movement or acceleration with high precision, alongside visual navigation and sensor fusion. “With the computation we have tested different ways…to not be linked to one system and to be robust,” he said.
Rigaud insisted that pilots will remain the ultimate decision-makers, with automation providing better information rather than replacing human judgment. The developments come as Europe pushes for greater technological sovereignty, a theme that resonated across VivaTech this year. France and Germany Push for European AI Sovereignty at VivaTech highlighted the continent's ambition to lead in critical technologies.
Airbus's work also ties into broader debates about the future of aviation and trade. The Airbus-Boeing Truce Expiry Threatens EU-US Trade Deal, a reminder that the aerospace giant operates in a politically charged environment. Meanwhile, the company's focus on quantum sensing and AI aligns with the kind of innovation showcased at AI Dominates VivaTech's 10th Edition, where 200,000 visitors debated the promise and peril of artificial intelligence.
As air travel grows and infrastructure lags, Airbus's Optimate project offers a glimpse of how European engineering might keep flying safe, efficient, and resilient—without relying on any single system or signal.
