Multiple object tracking (MOT), a key task in image recognition, poses a persistent challenge in balancing processing speed and tracking accuracy. This study presents a novel approach that leverages quantum annealing (QA) to expedite computation speed, while improving tracking accuracy through the ensemble processing of object tracking methods. A method to improve the matching integration process is also proposed. By utilizing the sequential nature of MOT, this study further augments the tracking method via reverse annealing. Experimental validation confirms the maintenance of high accuracy with an annealing time of a mere 3 μs per tracking process. Notably, the time-to-solution achieved reductions of over 99% compared to conventional QA implementations. The proposed method holds significant potential for real-time MOT applications, including traffic flow measurement for urban traffic light control, collision prediction for autonomous robots and vehicles, and management of products mass-produced in factories.
Multiple object tracking (MOT), a key task in image recognition, poses a persistent challenge in balancing processing speed and tracking accuracy. This study presents a novel approach that leverages quantum annealing (QA) to expedite computation speed, while improving tracking accuracy through the ensemble processing of object tracking methods. A method to improve the matching integration process is also proposed. By utilizing the sequential nature of MOT, this study further augments the tracking method via reverse annealing. Experimental validation confirms the maintenance of high accuracy with an annealing time of a mere 3 μs per tracking process. Notably, the time-to-solution achieved reductions of over 99% compared to conventional QA implementations. The proposed method holds significant potential for real-time MOT applications, including traffic flow measurement for urban traffic light control, collision prediction for autonomous robots and vehicles, and management of products mass-produced in factories.
This study explores the application of quantum annealing (QA) and reverse annealing (RA) to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of Multiple Object Tracking (MOT), a critical task in image recognition with wide-ranging real-time applications. MOT is particularly valuable in scenarios with high object density and frequent occlusions, such as traffic flow measurement, collision avoidance for autonomous systems, and industrial quality control. Traditional MOT methods, often modeled as combinatorial optimization problems, face computational bottlenecks as problem size scales. QA offers a breakthrough by leveraging quantum mechanics, including quantum superposition and tunneling, to rapidly and effectively search for optimal solutions. The proposed methods integrate QA for parallel processing of object tracking data and RA for fine-tuning solutions based on initial predictions, significantly reducing computation time while improving tracking accuracy. Experimental validation using the University at Albany DEtection and TRACking (UA-DETRAC) dataset demonstrates the effectiveness of these quantum-enhanced approaches. By combining multiple tracking solutions through ensemble techniques and leveraging RA for refinement, the methods achieved notable improvements in MOT metrics, including reduced identity switches, enhanced accuracy, and faster processing times. Applications in traffic management, autonomous systems, and industrial automation highlight the transformative potential of quantum-driven MOT systems in addressing real-time operational challenges. This work underscores the promise of quantum technologies as a foundational pillar for advancing next-generation image recognition and tracking systems.
Quantum based vehicle detection is the innovative integration of Quantum Machine Learning (QML) techniques with classical computer vision methods to enhance vehicle detection and speed tracking systems using OpenCV. Traditional approaches in vehicle detection and speed tracking are often hindered by computational inefficiencies and accuracy limitations in complex traffic scenarios. Our proposed hybrid quantum-classical framework aims to overcome these complications by exploiting the computational advantages of quantum computing. In this study, we employ Quantum Principal Component Analysis (QPCA) for feature extraction and data dimensionality reduction, optimizing the input data for improved processing efficiency. The core detection mechanism integrates Quantum Neural Networks (QNNs) with classical Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), enhancing the model’s accuracy in identifying vehicles within video frames. For speed tracking, we apply quantum optimization techniques to refine the tracking of vehicle positions across consecutive frames, ensuring precise speed calculation. Using OpenCV for real-time video processing and Qiskit for quantum computations, the findings from the experiments indicate significant improvements in both detection a precision, accuracy and computational efficiency. The hybrid quantum-classical model showcases the potential of quantum computing in advancing computer vision applications, particularly in intelligent transportation systems. This research highlights the transformative impact of QML techniques on practical applications and paves the way for further advancements in quantum-enhanced vehicle detection and speed tracking.
Abstract Traffic optimization remains a significant challenge in urban planning and transportation management. While efficient traffic optimization is crucial for enhancing urban mobility, reducing congestion, and promoting environmental sustainability, traditional computational methods often struggle with the complex, dynamic nature of traffic systems. Recent advances in quantum computing, particularly quantum annealing, offer promising new techniques that could revolutionize traffic flow optimization. This work systematically reviews the literature, starting with search term formulation and ending with the final set of articles. These articles are categorized into three groups: (1) traffic signal control, (2) traffic flow optimization, and (3) routing problems optimization (including vehicle routing problem and traveling salesman problem). The review critically examines current studies on quantum annealing-based traffic optimization, focusing on contributions, methods, solvers, problem suitability, key findings, benchmark fairness, and limitations. It identifies key challenges and provides recommendations for future research. Insights from this work offer researchers and practitioners a concise overview of current challenges and future directions in traffic optimization.
The utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in defense for functions, such as delivery and surveillance, has surged due to the fast progress of technology. UAV tracking and navigation system optimization is critical as UAV operations become more complicated. Quantum computing (QC) can significantly improve optimization procedures for real-time tracking, overcoming computational challenges and enhancing efficiency in UAV operations by handling large amounts of data. The study’s objective is to establish how QC performs in the optimization of UAV tracking. A novel Dynamic Kookaburra-tuned Malleable Convolutional Neural Network (DK-MCNN) is proposed to improve the tracking performance of UAVs. The data collected from video feeds from cameras mounted on UAVs, readings from GPS and other sensors outlining the specific paths and maneuvers the UAV will perform, ensuring diverse scenarios, including various terrains and environments. The data preprocessed using data cleaning and normalization involve removing erroneous or redundant data to ensure high-quality datasets. The study specifically focuses on leveraging QC into UAV tracking systems and promises to enhance performance, including speed, optimization, data handling and robustness. This technology has the potential to transform UAV operations, making them more efficient, reliable and capable of handling complex tasks in dynamic environments. The study evaluates the tracking accuracy, computational efficiency and resilience of the proposed method compared to traditional approaches across a range of operating situations. Extensive simulations of several tracking scenarios, encompassing urban, rural and disaster response situations, are employed to assess the efficacy of UAVs in monitoring and navigating across dynamic terrain. The outcomes illustrate the potential for real-time applications in UAV systems, by showing that the suggested technique dramatically decreases processing time and improves tracking accuracy, when compared to conventional algorithms.
Quantum computing offers new paradigms in machine learning, notably through Quantum Annealing (QA), which offers promising approaches to optimization problems. This study introduces an application of Multi-tasking Quantum Annealing (MTQA) to enhance multi-class Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Traditional QA methods require multiple cycles to classify multi-class datasets, significantly increasing computational demands. In contrast, MTQA embeds multiple SVM classifiers in parallel on a quantum annealer, thereby reducing the number of required annealing cycles to a single cycle. Utilizing the D-Wave Advantage 6.4 system, we evaluated our method across three benchmark datasets: a synthetic dataset (Blob), subsets of handwritten digits, and the Iris dataset with different feature focuses. Our findings demonstrate that MTQA achieves accuracy equivalent to that of classical Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO), Simulated Annealing (SA), and standard QA methods while significantly improving computational efficiency. Despite the current limitations in quantum technology and the empirical selection of model parameters, these results highlight the emergent potential of quantum computing in machine learning. Further advancements in quantum algorithm optimization and parameter tuning are anticipated to enhance the efficacy of QA and MTQA, solidifying their practical application roles.
This study introduces an innovative application of Parallel Quantum Annealing (PQA) to concurrently solve multiple NP-hard problems on a quantum annealer, leveraging unused qubits on D-Wave's Pegasus architecture to enhance efficiency and accuracy. While parallel execution of different problems on the same quantum annealing device has been previously explored, our application extends the current PQA method, which typically solves a single problem multiple times or different problems with minor embedded combinatorial optimization. This study primarily focuses on three NP-hard problems relevant to integrated circuit design: the Graph Coloring Problem (GCP), the Minimum Vertex Cover Problem (MVCP), and the Graph Partitioning Problem (GPP). After formulating these problems as Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO), they were embedded into the D-Wave quantum annealing machine, and the annealing process was run on the combined QUBO. The results were subsequently decoded into individual problems. Our results, quantified via the Time-To-Target (TTT) metric, showcased enhanced efficiency and accuracy in reaching target solutions, indicating a substantial improvement over traditional Quantum Annealing (QA) and Simulated Annealing (SA) methods. The research illustrates the potential of quantum computing for solving complex real-world problems more efficiently and emphasizes the importance of leveraging all available qubits in quantum annealers. The findings can significantly contribute to the development and optimization of quantum computing methods and have broad application implications, particularly in areas where NP-hard problems are prevalent.