1. Traffic flow optimization using a quantum annealer
- Author
-
Sheir Yarkoni, Christian Seidel, Florian Neukart, David Von Dollen, Bob Parney, and Gabriele Compostella
- Subjects
FOS: Computer and information sciences ,Optimization problem ,Computer Networks and Communications ,Computer science ,FOS: Physical sciences ,02 engineering and technology ,01 natural sciences ,quantum computing ,lcsh:QA75.5-76.95 ,Traffic flow (computer networking) ,Artificial Intelligence ,Position (vector) ,0103 physical sciences ,Computer Science - Data Structures and Algorithms ,Data Structures and Algorithms (cs.DS) ,010306 general physics ,Quantum information science ,Quantum ,Quantum computer ,Quantum Physics ,Quantum annealing ,quantum annealing ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Quantum technology ,traffic flow ,Hardware and Architecture ,ComputerSystemsOrganization_MISCELLANEOUS ,optimization algorithms ,lcsh:Electronic computers. Computer science ,0210 nano-technology ,Quantum Physics (quant-ph) ,Algorithm ,optimization ,Software ,Information Systems - Abstract
Quantum annealing algorithms belong to the class of meta-heuristic tools, applicable for solving binary optimization problems. Hardware implementations of quantum annealing, such as the quantum processing units (QPUs) produced by D-Wave Systems, have been subject to multiple analyses in research, with the aim of characterizing the technology's usefulness for optimization and sampling tasks. In this paper, we present a real-world application that uses quantum technologies. Specifically, we show how to map certain parts of the real-world traffic flow optimization problem to be suitable for quantum annealing. We show that time-critical optimization tasks, such as continuous redistribution of position data for cars in dense road networks, are suitable candidates for quantum applications. Due to the limited size and connectivity of current-generation D-Wave QPUs, we use a hybrid quantum and classical approach to solve the traffic flow problem., 17 pages, 6 figures
- Published
- 2017