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arXiv:2209.13712

A Quantum Optimization Algorithm for Single Machine Total Weighted Tardiness Minimization

Youhao Steve Wang, Julian Cheng

Published Sep 27, 2022• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A single machine total weighted tardiness minimization (TWTM) problem in operational planning is considered. The problem is formulated as an NP-hard constrained combinatorial problem, which has no known deterministic polynomial complexity solution using classical computing. Based on efficient Grover's quantum search and Trugenberger's quantum optimization algorithms, a novel efficient quantum optimization algorithm is proposed to solve the NP-hard single machine TWTM problem, which makes the desired solution satisfying the searching constraints and showing the minimal TWT value be measured with the highest probability.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2209.13712

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A single machine total weighted tardiness minimization (TWTM) problem in operational planning is considered. The problem is formulated as an NP-hard constrained combinatorial problem, which has no known deterministic polynomial complexity solution using classical computing. Based on efficient Grover's quantum search and Trugenberger's quantum optimization algorithms, a novel efficient quantum optimization algorithm is proposed to solve the NP-hard single machine TWTM problem, which makes the desired solution satisfying the searching constraints and showing the minimal TWT value be measured with the highest probability.
Grover search is currently one of the main approaches to obtain quantum speed-ups for combinatorial optimization problems. The combination of Quantum Minimum Finding (obtained from Grover search) with dynamic programming has proved particularly efficient to improve the worst-case complexity of several NP-hard optimization problems. Specifically, for these problems, the classical dynamic programming complexity (ignoring the polynomial factors) in O* (cn) can be reduced by a bounded-error hybrid quantum-classical algorithm to O* (cnquant) for cquant < c. In this paper, we extend the resulting hybrid dynamic programming algorithm to three examples of single-machine scheduling problems: minimizing the total weighted completion time with deadlines, minimizing the total weighted completion time with precedence constraints, and minimizing the total weighted tardiness. The extension relies on the inclusion of a pseudo-polynomial term in the state space of the dynamic programming as well as an additive term in the recurrence.
This work has been submitted to the IEEE for possible publication. Copyright may be transferred without notice, after which this version may no longer be accessible. The main disadvantage of calculations on quantum computers is their non-determinism. For optimization problems, of course, it is possible to get surprisingly good results but without a guarantee of the actual optimality of the result, i.e, an assurance that there exists no better solution which could potentially be found by the quantum machine. In this paper, we propose an novel approach that provides such a guarantee of optimality. We generate a solution that is optimal in the strict mathematical sense, without probabilistic considerations. To accomplish this, we use the D-Wave quantum machine working as a sampler implementing quantum annealing -- an approach considered a hardware metaheuristic -- to obtain upper and lower bounds on the value of the objective function of the problem under consideration. Then, we use the Branch and Bound scheme controlled by quantum annealing. This allows us to obtain very quickly -- in constant time -- the boundaries of the considered subproblems. Our approach is a combination of calculations realized on a quantum machine controlled by procedures implemented on a classical computer, allowing us to generate optimal solutions to the NP-hard problems of task scheduling on a single machine with a total weighted tardiness criterion. The proposed quantum algorithm shows a significant advantage over the classical CPU approach both in terms of calculation time and the number of generated solution tree nodes.
Quantum computing holds significant promise for solving NP-hard combinatorial problems by leveraging quantum properties such as superposition, entanglement, and interference. In this study, we apply Grover’s algorithm to a constrained scheduling problem modeled as a graph coloring task with an added complexity: ensuring that the total processing time of all jobs assigned to a machine does not exceed its capacity. This additional constraint increases the problem’s difficulty beyond traditional graph coloring. Our proposed quantum framework demonstrates the ability to generate valid schedules that satisfy both coloring and capacity constraint, highlighting the practical potential of quantum computing for addressing complex scheduling challenges.
The work deals with the NP-hard problem of scheduling tasks on two machines with the sum-cost criterion. In this problem, each task must be performed sequentially on the first and then on the second machine. Each task is associated with: execution time, due date, and weight (revenue) related to completing the task on-time (i.e. before the due date). The goal is to determine the order of task execution, the same on both machines, that maximizes the total weighted number of on-time tasks (maximum profit). We propose a hybrid algorithm combining quantum and classical methods based on the branch and bound method. We propose to formulate the problem under consideration as a Constrained Quadratic Model (CQM), due to which we can compute upper bounds (using Lagrange relaxation) and lower bounds on the D-Wave quantum machine. Although the D-Wave quantum computer performs probabilistic calculations, the solution determined by the proposed algorithm is optimal.
This paper proposes an application algorithm based on a quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA) for wireless scheduling problems. QAOA is one of the promising hybrid quantum-classical algorithms to solve combinatorial optimization problems and it provides great approximate solutions to non-deterministic polynomial-time (NP) hard problems. QAOA maps the given problem into Hilbert space, and then it generates the Hamiltonian for the given objective and constraint. Then, QAOA finds proper parameters from the classical optimization loop in order to optimize the expectation value of the generated Hamiltonian. Based on the parameters, the optimal solution to the given problem can be obtained from the optimum of the expectation value of the Hamiltonian. Inspired by QAOA, a quantum approximate optimization for scheduling (QAOS) algorithm is proposed. The proposed QAOS designs the Hamiltonian of the wireless scheduling problem which is formulated by the maximum weight independent set (MWIS). The designed Hamiltonian is converted into a unitary operator and implemented as a quantum gate operation. After that, the iterative QAOS sequence solves the wireless scheduling problem. The novelty of QAOS is verified with simulation results implemented via Cirq and TensorFlow-Quantum.
Abstract The transportation problem considered in this work consists of minimizing the sum of penalties for tardiness in the delivery of the product from the base to clients. We propose an innovative method for constructing hybrid algorithms using quantum annealing that guarantees the optimality of the solution. The hybrid algorithm alternately performs calculations on a classical computer equipped with a silicon CPU and a quantum annealer with a QPU processor. The entire method is based on the branch and bound scheme. The lower and upper bounds are calculated on the QPU, while the CPU is responsible for organizing the calculations, recalling the solution tree. The problem under consideration is of great practical importance because it is a component of many complex issues related to solving the traveling repairmen problem, which are very difficult or even impossible to solve today using classical methods. Undoubtedly, an important application of quantum computers in the future is NP‐hard optimization tasks related to transportation scheduling and logistics.