Quantum Computing Challenge
The Quantum Mobility Quest
Overview
Airbus and BMW Group have joined forces to support the launch of the Airbus-BMW Group Quantum Computing Challenge (ABQCC) under the motto “The Quantum Mobility Quest”.
This challenge is the first-of-its-kind, bringing together two global industry leaders to harness quantum technologies for real-world industrial applications, unlocking the potential to forge more efficient, sustainable and safer solutions for the future of transportation.
In 2024, The Quantum Insider will be the host of the challenge and is sponsored by Airbus and BMW Group, with the support of AWS.
Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide the most efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers the most modern and fuel-efficient airliners. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world’s leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
At Airbus, we believe in a decarbonised, connected and autonomous future for aerospace. We collaborate with our innovation ecosystem and leverage our digitised operations to imagine future concepts that will bring this vision to reality. One of the technology bricks Airbus prepares for early adoption are quantum technologies, to enhance the performance of our products and services, and to help us solve the most complex aerospace challenges.
Airbus’ first Quantum Computing Challenge in 2019 demonstrated worldwide success with a multitude of high-quality solutions proposed by the quantum ecosystem. The global competition presented five use cases focusing on the field of flight physics. A jury composed of world-leading quantum computing experts – from academia to industry – teamed up with Airbus to evaluate submitted proposals.
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.
As a pioneer in the global automotive market BMW Group recognizes the transformative potential of Quantum Computing and its importance. Circularity and sustainable mobility are putting us on a quest for new materials, to create more efficient products and shape the future premium user experience. Quantum Computing provides the right tools for more speed in innovation.
Forward Track Challenges
Four use-cases covering four application domains have been formulated together with the experts of Airbus, BMW Group and AWS.
Investigating Quantum Computing for Corrosion Inhibition
The mitigation of surface degradation processes is essential in prolonging the lifespan of Airbus and BMW Group products, improving operational efficiency, optimizing maintenance plans, and ultimately reducing costs. The degradation of the surface is initiated when mechanical damage in the coating exposes the underlying layer of aluminium to the surrounding atmosphere. In a smart coating material, an inhibitor is embedded within the coating matrix and, upon the damage, form a protective layer blocking the advancement of the aluminium degradation.
The goal of this challenge is to model the process of adsorption of inhibitors on an aluminium surface and to understand the binding properties using quantum methods.
Towards an Efficient and Sustainable Supply Chain
Transport and logistics between manufacturing sites significantly contributes to the carbon-dioxide emissions and drives industrial efficiency and cost. In particular, the complexity of mobility products like vehicles and aircraft leads to highly complex supply chains. Airbus and BMW Group are both committed to reducing their carbon – dioxide emissions and to ensuring a reliable and efficient supply chain for their manufacturing processes.
The objective of this use case is to elaborate a quantum solution for a manufacturing supply chain problem respecting the driving application constraints.
Augmenting Generative AI for Critical Test Scenario Images
Future autonomous mobility will rely heavily on reliable and safe AI vision systems, being an essential brick for autonomous driving of vehicles but also for automated landing of aircraft. To achieve the highest level of safety, it is necessary to have access to representative datasets of images specially for critical test scenarios. Those include lower visibility during night-time as well as adverse weather, intricate traffic patterns, and obstructions on runways. Quantum computers offer potential advantages for such challenges compared to their classical counterparts.
This problem statement focuses on the generation of images that encapsulate critical scenarios using quantum generative modeling techniques.
Predictive Aeroacoustic & Aerodynamic modeling
The ability to accurately predict aerodynamic flows and the propagation of sound waves are key capabilities in the mobility industry, with high relevance both for the automotive and aviation sector. This ability enables the development of high-quality products with supreme performances, e.g. reducing noise pollution and lowering carbon emissions. In this context, it is paramount to solve partial differential equations describing multi-scale problems with many millions of degrees of freedom, limited by the available computational power of High Performance Computing systems.
This problem statement focuses on finding most suitable quantum-based approaches to solve the relevant aerodynamic and acoustic equations.
Reverse Track Challenges
The Golden App: Pushing the Boundaries of Quantum Tech for Mobility
Typical approaches nudge quantum technology to the most driving challenges, which, however, often are not quantum native! Airbus and BMW Group are both leading companies in the automotive and aerospace sector, respectively, and committed to embracing quantum technology as early adopters as part of their innovation strategies. While quantum computing appears to have gained a foothold in various areas, we ponder whether the “golden app” for mobility remains unveiled.
In this challenge, we invite you to propose novel solutions for both hardware and software where you see a large potential but where the relevance for the mobility sector still needs to be proven.
Process
Forward Track
Reverse Track
Four use-cases covering four application domains have been formulated together with the experts of Airbus and BMW Group.
The use-cases are hosted during the full challenge duration on a dedicated digital platform in open access for users-solution providers, who will submit their solutions and benchmarks.
The Phase I of the challenge is dedicated to exploration of solution space, and search for new original ways of approaching real-life mobility challenges using quantum and quantum-inspired technologies.
Quantum technology providers will be required to describe their technology providing examples of potential application areas (sustainability, safety, automated driving, logistics, ..) that could be of interest for the mobility industry.
The submission should be completed by a feasibility study and argumentation of future potential/ business relevance for the automotive and/or aerospace industry.
Phase I: Exploration
Jan 2024 - Apr 30 2024
(Deadline for Phase 1 submissions)
An international Jury of quantum computing experts will work with technical specialists from Airbus, BMW Group and AWS, assess the submitted proposal based on agreed evaluation metrics and select up to 12 finalists.
Jury of experts formed by business and technical specialists from Airbus, BMW Group and AWS will assess the submitted proposals based on agreed evaluation metrics and select up to 3 finalists.
Selection of finalists
May 2024
The Phase II of the challenge is dedicated to benchmarking selected innovative solutions based on Airbus and BMW Group data sets and with the support of both companies’ specialists. To ensure equal conditions in accessing quantum computing hardware and simulation resources for all finalists, the host will provide access to Amazon Braket services by request.
The Phase II of this track is dedicated to application and benchmarking of selected innovative technologies together with business and technical experts from BMW and Airbus.
Phase II: Implementation & benchmarking
June - October 2024
A jury formed by Quantum Computing experts and top management from BMW Group, Airbus and AWS will evaluate the final submissions and pitches provided by finalists and select four winners (one per use-case).
A jury formed by Quantum Computing experts and top management from BMW Group, Airbus and AWS will evaluate the final submissions and pitches provided by finalists and select one winner.
Selection of winners
Oct 2024
All winners will be awarded with prizes (€30k per winner) during an awards ceremony. Both BMW Group and Airbus keep the right to continue discussions with the winners for potential collaborations
Awards ceremony
Dec 2024
