Abstract Image classification, a pivotal task in multiple industries, faces computational challenges due to the burgeoning volume of visual data. This research addresses these challenges by introducing two quantum machine learning models that leverage the principles of quantum mechanics for effective computations. Our first model, a hybrid quantum neural network with parallel quantum circuits, enables the execution of computations even in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era, where circuits with a large number of qubits are currently infeasible. This model demonstrated a record-breaking classification accuracy of 99.21% on the full MNIST dataset, surpassing the performance of known quantum–classical models, while having eight times fewer parameters than its classical counterpart. Also, the results of testing this hybrid model on a Medical MNIST (classification accuracy over 99%), and on CIFAR-10 (classification accuracy over 82%), can serve as evidence of the generalizability of the model and highlights the efficiency of quantum layers in distinguishing common features of input data. Our second model introduces a hybrid quantum neural network with a Quanvolutional layer, reducing image resolution via a convolution process. The model matches the performance of its classical counterpart, having four times fewer trainable parameters, and outperforms a classical model with equal weight parameters. These models represent advancements in quantum machine learning research and illuminate the path towards more accurate image classification systems.
Abstract Image classification, a pivotal task in multiple industries, faces computational challenges due to the burgeoning volume of visual data. This research addresses these challenges by introducing two quantum machine learning models that leverage the principles of quantum mechanics for effective computations. Our first model, a hybrid quantum neural network with parallel quantum circuits, enables the execution of computations even in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era, where circuits with a large number of qubits are currently infeasible. This model demonstrated a record-breaking classification accuracy of 99.21% on the full MNIST dataset, surpassing the performance of known quantum–classical models, while having eight times fewer parameters than its classical counterpart. Also, the results of testing this hybrid model on a Medical MNIST (classification accuracy over 99%), and on CIFAR-10 (classification accuracy over 82%), can serve as evidence of the generalizability of the model and highlights the efficiency of quantum layers in distinguishing common features of input data. Our second model introduces a hybrid quantum neural network with a Quanvolutional layer, reducing image resolution via a convolution process. The model matches the performance of its classical counterpart, having four times fewer trainable parameters, and outperforms a classical model with equal weight parameters. These models represent advancements in quantum machine learning research and illuminate the path towards more accurate image classification systems.
This research explores quantum machine learning for image classification, comparing classical and quantum models. A classical convolutional neural network (CNN), based on the LeNet architecture, achieved 99.12% accuracy on MNIST, outperforming a quantum CNN, which attained 93.30%. Quantum encoders applied to Fashion-MNIST reached 85.60%, while quantum support vector machine (SVM), implemented for binary classification, obtained 71.34%. The study integrates hybrid quantum-classical models, leveraging quantum circuits for feature extraction. A quantum autoencoder-based classifier was introduced, demonstrating efficient data compression and classification without additional qubits. Feature encoding using RX gates mapped classical data into quantum states, and the impact of parameterized quantum circuit structures on classification accuracy was analyzed. Results indicate that specific ansatz structures yield superior accuracy, highlighting the significance of quantum circuit design. While classical models currently outperform quantum counterparts, quantum approaches reduce trainable parameters and computational complexity. Limitations in current quantum hardware, including noise and scalability, restrict performance. However, advancements in error mitigation, quantum gate efficiency, and scalable quantum architecture could bridge the gap with classical methods. These quantum techniques hold potential in aerospace applications, such as satellite image classification, anomaly detection in remote sensing, and real-time processing of high-dimensional image data. This study underscores the growing role of quantum circuits in machine learning, particularly in feature extraction and classification, suggesting that future quantum hardware could unlock new capabilities in end-to-end learning beyond hybrid approaches.
Image classification plays a vital role in large-scale data analysis, especially in object recognition tasks using advanced Deep Learning (DL) frameworks. However, the growing complexity and computational demands of modern DL models have introduced challenges related to scalability and efficiency. Quantum Computing (QC) has emerged as a promising alternative, capable of addressing these limitations by leveraging the principles of Quantum Machine Learning (QML). However, many existing QML models require a large number of qubits, which poses limitations within the current Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era. This work introduces a novel Adaptive Quantum Convolutional Neural Network (AQCNN) designed for efficient and scalable image classification within the constraints of NISQ devices. Addressing the limitations of existing QML approaches, particularly the high qubit requirements, AQCNN incorporates a resource-efficient quantum convolutional layer that performs localized quantum filtering using parameterized quantum circuits. A classical preprocessing layer encodes input features to reduce qubit load, followed by quantum embedding and hybrid quantum-classical layers that optimize feature extraction and classification performance. The model leverages an adaptive quantum convolution strategy, minimizing quantum gate depth and circuit complexity while preserving critical spatial hierarchies in image data. Evaluated on benchmark datasets, AQCNN achieved 95.88% accuracy on MNIST and 95.68% on FMNIST, outperforming comparable QML architectures. Additionally, the model supports scalable execution through parallel quantum circuit arrays, enabling practical deployment on current quantum hardware. This architecture demonstrates a significant advance in quantum-assisted image classification, balancing performance with qubit and gate efficiency. The integration of adaptive quantum convolution and hybrid processing not only enhances classification accuracy but also provides a viable path forward for deploying QML solutions under realistic hardware constraints.
The objective of this research is to develop a Hybrid Quantum-Classical Convolutional Neural Network (QC-CNN) framework that integrates parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs) within classical CNN architectures to enhance image classification performance.The proposed model leverages quantum principles such as superposition and entanglement for high-dimensional feature representation, achieving superior accuracy and reduced computational complexity.Experiments on MNIST and CIFAR-10 datasets demonstrated improved classification accuracy of 98.7% and 82.5%, respectively, surpassing traditional CNNs while reducing training time by 33% and parameters by 45%.Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of these improvements.Visualizations using t-SNE revealed enhanced class separability, and noise perturbation tests validated the model's robustness.The results highlight the hybrid QC-CNN's potential for efficient and scalable quantum-enhanced deep learning applications.Extended evaluations, including quantum-layer-depth analysis, robustness testing, and t-SNE visualization, empirically support the hybrid QC-CNN's effectiveness across varied scenarios.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in leveraging the unique properties of quantum computing to develop novel machine learning algorithms and architectures. This research paper presents an investigation of quantum convolutional neural networks (QCNNs), which leverage the unique properties of quantum computing to potentially improve the accuracy and efficiency of image classification tasks. Specifically, the paper explores three different QCNN architectures, including a pure quantum-based QCNN, a hybrid QCNN with a single quantum convolution layer, and a hybrid convolutional architecture with multiple quantum filters. We tested the models on MNIST dataset and the results of the study demonstrate that hybrid architectures that combine quantum and classical processing are more effective than pure quantum-based architectures in image classification tasks. In particular, the third model, the Hybrid Convolution with Multiple Quantum Filters, achieved the highest test set accuracy of 92.7%. The use of multiple quantum filters in conjunction with a classical neural network resulted in enhanced accuracy and efficiency in image classification tasks, highlighting the potential of hybrid architectures for future applications in machine learning tasks.
Nowadays, using machine learning for image classification is very common. However, due to the increasing demand for data processing and fast computing, the idea of enhancing machine learning with quantum computing has been proposed, known as quantum machine learning (QML). Quantum machine learning has the advantages of higher efficiency and accuracy. Quantum computing uses quantum bits (qubits) for data storage and computing, where a qubit can represent quantum states |0〉and |1〉simultaneously, enabling the processing of information for two states simultaneously, which is unparalleled in classical computing. Moreover, quantum machine learning can handle more complex data and process data faster. In classical machine learning, the processing of large-scale data and complex problems often faces problems of high computational complexity and low algorithm efficiency. Quantum computing can handle multiple computing tasks simultaneously, achieving faster computing. Therefore, in some scenarios that require efficient computing, quantum machine learning may be the best choice. In this study, we simulated quantum circuits using Qiskit and built a hybrid quantum-classical neural network model using VQNet to classify MNIST handwritten digits and CIFAR-10 datasets. The experiments showed that quantum machine learning has the advantages of efficiency, accuracy, and security over classical machine learning, which may be an improvement over classical machine learning. This research proposes a machine learning algorithm based on quantum computing, which promotes the development of quantum computing and quantum technology. At the same time, it provides a new solution and idea for image classification, enabling people to pursue faster and more accurate quantum machine learning instead of being limited to classical machine learning.[1]
Image classification is a fundamental task in deep learning, and recent advances in quantum computing have generated significant interest in quantum neural networks. Traditionally, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are employed to extract image features, while Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) handle decision making. However, parameterized quantum circuits offer the potential to capture complex image features and define sophisticated decision boundaries. In this paper, we present a novel Hybrid Quantum–Classical Neural Network (H-QNN) for image classification, and demonstrate its effectiveness using the MNIST dataset. Our model combines quantum computing with classical supervised learning to enhance classification accuracy and computational efficiency. In this study, we detail the architecture of the H-QNN, emphasizing its capability in feature learning and image classification. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed H-QNN model outperforms conventional deep learning methods in various training scenarios, showcasing its effectiveness in high-dimensional image classification tasks. Additionally, we explore the broader applicability of hybrid quantum–classical approaches in other domains. Our findings contribute to the growing body of work in quantum machine learning, and underscore the potential of quantum-enhanced models for image recognition and classification.