Airbus partners with IonQ for quantum computing program

Airbus has partnered with quantum computing company IonQ for a pilot project to build a prototype application that aims to improve cargo loading efficiency. Airbus’ Quantum Aircraft Loading Optimization & Quantum Machine Learning project will span 12 months and include coaching sessions for Airbus developers and engineers. In addition to improving efficiency, IonQ’s Aria quantum computer, which will be used for the project, could lead to future cost savings as cargo distribution is optimized in aircraft, according to an Aug. 18 release from IonQ. [caption id="attachment_97931" align="alignright" width="462"] (Photo: Airbus)[/caption] Real-world tasks like fleet management are often difficult to carry out using regular computing, which may not be powerful enough, Jasper Simon Krauser, Airbus quantum technology central coordinator, told Air Cargo World . Enter quantum computing, which may resolve such tasks exponentially faster. The “current methodology for cargo loading is based on classically pre-optimized estimates,” Krauser said. “In general, many key optimization problems require huge computational resources to handle the large parameter space in order to come to an efficient solution. Quantum computing is a promising technology to address such optimization problems, which cannot be solved properly, in a given time frame, with classical means.” While the project will focus on operational efficiency, Airbus plans to use IonQ’s quantum algorithms to optimize aerodynamics, trajectory and reduced fuel consumption in flying, Krauser added. Quantum computing should be embraced by manufacturers as a solution for when global supply chains falter, IonQ co-founder and CTO Jungsang Kim told Air Cargo World . "The aircraft-loading is an important optimization problem of practical importance to the aviation industry – we will explore and develop an adaptable algorithm that airline manufacturers can use to calculate various cargo scenarios and determine the optimum design and distribution," Kim said. Digitalization for optimized capacity Stakeholders have turned to technology solutions to optimize capacity, with several companies emerging to ensure that unit loading devices (ULDs) are packed as efficiently as possible inside aircraft. E-booking companies like cargo.one and WebCargo by Freightos have seen a surge in carriers using their digital booking platforms in recent years. Meanwhile, software company Cargo-Planner's load-planning software , used by carriers including DHL and Air Canada Cargo, enables airfreight stakeholders to maximize loads by creating 3D plans using aircraft models to visualize the most efficient way to pack cargo. IonQ Aria is the world’s most powerful quantum computer, according to the company’s website. The system became available on cloud-based platform Microsoft Azure Quantum last week, according to an Aug. 15 earnings report. Founded in 2015, College Park, Md.-based IonQ has already partnered with vehicle manufacturers, including Hyundai, to develop more powerful electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The company’s other partners include GE Research and materials science company Dow. In the second quarter of 2022, IonQ reported $2.6 million in revenue, nearly 28 times higher than the $93,000 it reported in Q2 2022. Join Air Cargo World for our next webinar, “Forward Thinking: Best practices for freight forwarder success,” on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 11 a.m. ET. Click here for more information and to register.

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