Quantum technology in automotive and mobility

A frequently asked question, given the hype around quantum computers and quantum technology. But where to start? Mistakenly, users look first in the IT department or the company's own data center for the benefit. But if not there, then where?

Benefit of quantum computing: route and process optimization

Actually, a benefit opens up via the specialist departments. A prime example of this is the "optimization potential" aspect. Using the example of the traveling salesman who, for example, is only allowed to travel to different locations once and must take the shortest route overall, it can be seen that the problem grows exponentially to 120 possible routes from just 5 customers to be visited. If the model is extended to 32 cities, 2.6*10³⁵ possible routes have to be considered. On classical computers, such complex problems cannot be solved in acceptable time. Under real conditions, however, additional parameters (traffic congestion, construction sites, specified visiting times, sequence, trip duration) increase the complexity even further. If one abstracts this problem, one ends up with the mathematical formulation of combinatorial optimization. Over suitable algorithms such tasks of the optimization over so-called Annealer (quantum or digital) can be computed already today with considerable time advantage.

Quantum algorithm: one problem class - many industrial applications

Airplane arrival and departure times with defined gate assignments or stopovers, traffic flows in congested metropolises, fleet management for "car sharing on demand" providers, logistics, robotic roads, manufacturing steps in the automotive industry (paths and positions of robot arms), cutting as many non-uniform structures as possible from a defined surface material. With increasing complexity, one considers embedding an optimized process in a production line, optimizing several production lines against each other, and finally optimizing an entire plant or several plants.

In the medium term: quantum advantage for industry

These are issues that are already being implemented. Today still with manageable complexity and as a learning piece - in the future the increasing qubit computing power then promises a real quantum advantage for highly complex solution spaces. By breaking down complexity, however, business models and use cases can also be generated, since, for example, the handling of variants can be calculated and is already being applied in practice by the first pioneers. In addition to the optimization of processes, there are still promising possibilities in the future for material development, the simulation of chemical molecule properties, sensor technology, communication, and much more.

Dr. Andreas Böhm - Head of Thinknet Quantum Technology at Bayern Innovativ - talks with Dr. Florian Neukart - Director, Volkswagen Group Data:Lab Munich - about the potential of quantum computers in the automotive industry.

We are currently experiencing the beginning of a new age - setting the course for the day after tomorrow. Generally speaking, only those who take the plunge today will be able to keep up with the international competition tomorrow.