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arXiv:2203.12072 · Quantum Machine Intelligence

A hybrid quantum image edge detector for the NISQ era

Alexander Geng, Ali Moghiseh, Claudia Redenbach, Katja Schladitz

Published Jun 23, 2022• 21 citations
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Abstract

Abstract Edges are image locations where the gray value intensity changes suddenly. They are among the most important features to understand and segment an image. Edge detection is a standard task in digital image processing, solved, for example, using filtering techniques. However, the amount of data to be processed grows rapidly and pushes even supercomputers to their limits. Quantum computing promises exponentially lower memory usage in terms of the number of qubits compared to the number of classical bits. In this paper, we propose a hybrid method for quantum edge detection based on the idea of a quantum artificial neuron. Our method can be practically implemented on quantum computers, especially on those of the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum era. We compare six variants of the method to reduce the number of circuits and thus the time required for the quantum edge detection. Taking advantage of the scalability of our method, we can practically detect edges in images considerably larger than reached before.

DOI
10.1007/s42484-022-00071-3

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Abstract Edges are image locations where the gray value intensity changes suddenly. They are among the most important features to understand and segment an image. Edge detection is a standard task in digital image processing, solved, for example, using filtering techniques. However, the amount of data to be processed grows rapidly and pushes even supercomputers to their limits. Quantum computing promises exponentially lower memory usage in terms of the number of qubits compared to the number of classical bits. In this paper, we propose a hybrid method for quantum edge detection based on the idea of a quantum artificial neuron. Our method can be practically implemented on quantum computers, especially on those of the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum era. We compare six variants of the method to reduce the number of circuits and thus the time required for the quantum edge detection. Taking advantage of the scalability of our method, we can practically detect edges in images considerably larger than reached before.
Quantum computing offers the potential to enhance computational efficiency beyond classical methods, but practical implementation remains challenging due to the limitations of Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) hardware, namely, restricted qubit counts, limited connectivity, and the presence of noise and decoherence. This study presents a novel approach to edge detection by leveraging a recently developed Quantum Fuzzy Inference Engine, implemented on a NISQ device. We introduce an optimized quantum circuit for its implementation, reducing qubit requirements and gate depth to improve execution on NISQ hardware. To overcome constraints related to large-scale image processing, a hybrid quantum–classical lookup table approach is employed. Edge detection performance is evaluated on the Berkeley Segmentation Data Set and Benchmarks 500 dataset under different conditions, including classical execution, ideal quantum simulation, noisy quantum simulation, and NISQ hardware calculation. Results demonstrate that the quantum fuzzy logic-based edge detection achieves outcomes comparable to classical methods by using fewer operations, marking a step toward practical quantum-enhanced image processing.
The size of images and data we process every day have been growing exponentially over the last years. Quantum computers promise to process this data more efficiently. Experiments on quantum computer simulators prove the paradigms this promise is built on to be correct. However, currently, running the very same algorithms on a real quantum computer is often too error prone to be of any practical use. We explore the current possibilities for image processing on real quantum computers. We redesign a commonly used quantum image encoding technique to reduce its susceptibility to errors. We show experimentally that the current size limit for images to be encoded on the quantum computer and subsequently retrieved with an error of at most 5% is 2×2 pixels. A way to circumvent this limitation is to combine ideas of classical filtering with a quantum algorithm operating locally, only. We show the practicability of this strategy using the application example of edge detection. Our hybrid filtering scheme’s quantum part is an artificial neuron, working well on real quantum computers, too.
Quantum computers possess the potential to process data using a remarkably reduced number of qubits compared to conventional bits, as per theoretical foundations. However, recent experiments have indicated that the practical feasibility of retrieving an image from its quantum encoded version is currently limited to very small image sizes. Despite this constraint, variational quantum machine learning algorithms can still be employed in the current noisy intermediate scale quantum (NISQ) era. An example is a hybrid quantum machine learning approach for edge detection. In our study, we present an application of quantum transfer learning for detecting cracks in gray value images. We compare the performance and training time of PennyLane's standard qubits with IBM's qasm\_simulator and real backends, offering insights into their execution efficiency.
Abstract The size and number of images and the amount of data we process every day have grown rapidly over the last years. Quantum computers promise to process this data more efficiently since classical images can be stored in quantum states. Experiments on quantum computer simulators prove the paradigms this promise is built on to be correct. However, currently, running the very same algorithms on a real quantum computer is often too error-prone to be of any practical use. We explore the current possibilities for image processing on real quantum computers. We redesign a commonly used quantum image encoding technique to reduce its susceptibility to errors. We show experimentally that the current size limit for images to be encoded on a quantum computer and subsequently retrieved with an error of at most 5 % is 2 × 2 pixels. A way to circumvent this limitation is to combine ideas of classical filtering with a quantum algorithm operating locally, only. We show the practicability of this strategy using the application example of edge detection. Our hybrid filtering scheme’s quantum part is an artificial neuron, working well on real quantum computers, too.
Quantum computers offer the potential to process data using significantly fewer qubits compared to conventional bits, as per theoretical foundations. However, recent experiments [1] have indicated that the practical feasibility of retrieving an image from its quantum encoded version is currently limited to very small image sizes. Despite this constraint, variational quantum machine learning algorithms can still be employed in the current noisy intermediate scale quantum (NISQ) era. An example is a hybrid quantum machine learning approach for edge detection [2]. In our study, we showcase an application of quantum transfer learning for detecting cracks in gray value images. We evaluate the performance and training time of PennyLane’s standard qubits with IBM’s qasm_simulator and real backends, offering insights into their execution efficiency.
Quantum algorithms have emerged as a transformative approach to address the computational challenges of high-dimensional image processing tasks. This research investigates the integration of quantum computing principles, such as Quantum Fourier Transform (QFT) and Quantum Principal Component Analysis (QPCA), to optimize processes like edge detection, noise reduction, and image segmentation. These quantum-enhanced techniques promise significant improvements in computational efficiency and accuracy compared to classical methods, especially when handling complex visual data in real-time applications like medical imaging, satellite imagery, and autonomous systems. Additionally, the study explores hybrid quantum-classical architectures to bridge current limitations in noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, ensuring resource optimization and scalability. The potential of quantum algorithms to provide faster, more precise solutions is evaluated alongside challenges like error mitigation and algorithmic stability. This research highlights the future role of quantum computing in revolutionizing image processing, paving the way for breakthroughs in computer vision and artificial intelligence.