Quantum Algorithms

Quantum Mission Planning Challenges (QMPC)

Quantum Mission Planning Challenges (QMPC) is a DLR project funded by the Quantum Computing Initiative (QCI) for exploring Quantum Computation with the goal of solving concrete Mission Planning related problems.

The goal of QMPC is to develop quantum algorithms for specific realistic Mission Planning problems that can be run on current and future quantum computers. Besides this it tries to integrate these solutions into the operational landscape at GSOC as well as promote quantum computation in the area of space craft control.

Since December 2023 we are happy to have E.ON Digital Technology implementing quantum algorithms for a Vehicle-2-Grid problem very similar to our Mission Planning Challenges.

Mission Planning typically involves constrained optimization problems that can be of very large sizes, e.g. when creating schedules for large satellite constellations. Classical solvers, however, very often scale badly with input size. As quantum computation currently sees a lot of progress there is hope that one may solve large problem instances using quantum algorithms on noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices (NISQ), quantum annealers or future large gate-based quantum computers.

Topics

Description

Spacecraft Quantum On-Call Scheduling (SQOS)

Goal is to create on-call shift plans for operators at GSOC. This includes a variety of constraints modelling requirements that sub systems need to have an operator on-call, operators may have outages or various labor laws. SQOS uses classical optimizers as well as the Grover quantum algorithm to find good solutions.

Quantum Reinforced Groundstation Scheduling (QuaRGS)

Given a large satellite constellation with known orbits and multiple ground stations the goal is to plan ground contacts obeying various constraints from satellite operations. This problem includes continuous components and shall be applicable to very large future satellite constellations.

Earth Observation Planning

An earth observation satellite schedule with known orbit and certain acquisition requests shall be planned in such a way that as many data takes as possible are executed while obeying various operational constraints. These may include the planning of downlinks such that the maximum on-board memory is respected but can also include sliding window constraints due to thermal restrictions.

Quantum Space Operations Center (QSOC)

QSOC is a holistic approach to bring quantum computing to GSOC by looking for possible applications in the various systems required for space craft operations.