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Main Authors: Zhou, Chun, Zhou, Yanyang, Wang, Ping, Li, Tan, Zhou, Yu, Wang, Hao, Li, Yanmei Zhao Huan, Li, Dawei, Wang, Fangxiang, Zheng, Diyuan, Zhang, Qifa, Sun, Hui, Tang, Shibiao, Li, Hongwei, Han, Zhengfu, Bao, Wansu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.18934
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author Zhou, Chun
Zhou, Yanyang
Wang, Ping
Li, Tan
Zhou, Yu
Wang, Hao
Li, Yanmei Zhao Huan
Li, Dawei
Wang, Fangxiang
Zheng, Diyuan
Zhang, Qifa
Sun, Hui
Tang, Shibiao
Li, Hongwei
Han, Zhengfu
Bao, Wansu
author_facet Zhou, Chun
Zhou, Yanyang
Wang, Ping
Li, Tan
Zhou, Yu
Wang, Hao
Li, Yanmei Zhao Huan
Li, Dawei
Wang, Fangxiang
Zheng, Diyuan
Zhang, Qifa
Sun, Hui
Tang, Shibiao
Li, Hongwei
Han, Zhengfu
Bao, Wansu
contents Low-altitude drones can serve as dynamic nodes apparently mitigating terrain-induced impacts for quantum networks. However, it is extremely hard to establish a sable quantum link in a drone-based dynamic platform, which requires centimeter-level positioning techniques and high-precision time synchronization technologies. In this paper, we develop a single-ended polarization adaptive correction technology at both the transmitting and receiving ends. Based on this, we present the world's first kilometer-scale drone-based QKD network, achieving an 1.2 km free-space QKD link with a secure key rate of 2.76 kbps, suitable for urban quantum network deployment. We validate the feasibility of QKD between dynamic drone and ground unmanned vehicle at a relative speed of 1 m/s over a distance of 100 m, attaining a secure key rate of 70.94 kbps. This work advances drone-based QKD from static demonstrations to practical dynamic network, boasting great development potential for an airborne quantum internet.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_18934
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Long Distance Daylight Drone-based Quantum Key Distribution under Relative Motion
Zhou, Chun
Zhou, Yanyang
Wang, Ping
Li, Tan
Zhou, Yu
Wang, Hao
Li, Yanmei Zhao Huan
Li, Dawei
Wang, Fangxiang
Zheng, Diyuan
Zhang, Qifa
Sun, Hui
Tang, Shibiao
Li, Hongwei
Han, Zhengfu
Bao, Wansu
Quantum Physics
Low-altitude drones can serve as dynamic nodes apparently mitigating terrain-induced impacts for quantum networks. However, it is extremely hard to establish a sable quantum link in a drone-based dynamic platform, which requires centimeter-level positioning techniques and high-precision time synchronization technologies. In this paper, we develop a single-ended polarization adaptive correction technology at both the transmitting and receiving ends. Based on this, we present the world's first kilometer-scale drone-based QKD network, achieving an 1.2 km free-space QKD link with a secure key rate of 2.76 kbps, suitable for urban quantum network deployment. We validate the feasibility of QKD between dynamic drone and ground unmanned vehicle at a relative speed of 1 m/s over a distance of 100 m, attaining a secure key rate of 70.94 kbps. This work advances drone-based QKD from static demonstrations to practical dynamic network, boasting great development potential for an airborne quantum internet.
title Long Distance Daylight Drone-based Quantum Key Distribution under Relative Motion
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.18934