Quantum Computing in Aerospace Engineering

Quantum-Inspired Computing Revolutionizes Turbulence Simulation Breakthrough in Turbulence Modeling • Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a quantum-inspired approach to simulating turbulence, a historically complex and computationally expensive problem. • Instead of directly modeling the chaotic flow patterns, the team treats turbulence as a probabilistic system, leveraging probability distribution functions (PDFs) to extract critical flow properties such as lift and drag. • This method reduces the computational burden, making turbulence simulations faster and more efficient without losing essential accuracy. Overcoming Computational Barriers • Traditional turbulence simulations require solving high-dimensional Fokker-Planck equations, which are notoriously difficult for classical computing systems. • The Oxford team bypassed these constraints by adopting quantum-inspired algorithms, which are optimized for dealing with probabilistic systems and complex data structures. • Their approach significantly accelerates turbulence modeling across various disciplines, from aerospace engineering to climate science and fluid dynamics. Potential Applications • Aerodynamics: Faster simulations for aircraft wing designs and drag reduction in vehicles. • Weather Prediction: Improved modeling of atmospheric turbulence for more accurate climate forecasting. • Energy Efficiency: Enhancements in wind turbine performance and jet engine optimization. • Quantum Computing Integration: Lays groundwork for future quantum simulations of turbulence, which could further refine computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. Key Takeaways • Quantum-inspired computing is redefining turbulence modeling, offering a probabilistic approach that sidesteps traditional computational bottlenecks. • This breakthrough could revolutionize multiple industries by enabling more accurate and efficient simulations of turbulent systems. • As quantum hardware continues to advance, these methods could serve as a bridge to fully quantum turbulence simulations, unlocking even greater precision in fluid dynamics research.

It seems pretty clear that the aerospace industry needs better tech. Planes have relied on satellite-based GPS for decades, but it's increasingly vulnerable to spoofing and jamming from bad actors and nation states, especially around are the Middle East and around Ukraine and Russia. A small toaster-size black box that leverages quantum physics and contains lasers, electrons and a single GPU could provide a solution. Or at least, Airbus's Silicon Valley-based innovation center, Acubed, thought it might. Acubed recently flew over 150 hours to test whether this navigation solution, known as quantum sensing, could be as reliable as GPS, and early results were promising, said Eric Euteneuer, principal systems engineer at the lab. The quantum sensing device is theoretically unjammable and unspoofable because it's completely analogue. Inside the black box, which was developed by Google spinout SandboxAQ, lasers fire at electrons, forcing photons to release a unique signature that's dependent on the magnetic pull at specific location. An AI algorithm that runs on a single GPU then correlates that signature to that exact location on the earth. When I first heard about quantum sensing a couple years ago, I was fascinated. But couldn't find any companies doing anything meaningful enough to cover. That's why my ears perked up when I heard about what Acubed was doing. There are certainly some hurdles before this becomes widely commercialized, but the promise is exciting. “It’s the first novel absolute navigation system to our knowledge in the last 50 years,” said SandboxAQ CEO Jack Hidary. Read the full story in The Wall Street Journal below for more on how the tech works and why quantum sensing applications go beyond aerospace and can even help doctors measure faint magnetic signals from the brain and the heart. And let me know what you think! Do we need a tech refresh on GPS? Could this be it?

Exploiting quantum physics could offer commercial aircraft an alternative to satellite-based navigation, by enhancing the accuracy of inertial systems while avoiding disruption and jamming. Commercial flight trials, using a BAE Systems Avro RJ100 of UK engineering research specialist QinetiQ, have demonstrated the potential of quantum-based technology to achieve more resilient position, navigation and timing services. https://lnkd.in/eDzGtqYx