A metaverse is composed of a physical-space and virtual-space, with the aim of having users in both the virtual reality and the real world experience. Prioritization is essential, but it is not straight-forwarded due to the limitation of computing resources in real-world, making it impossible to synchronize all data. Therefore, it is crucial to allocate resources based on regional preferences in physical-space and content preferences of users in virtual-space. The referencing system consists of two-stage sub-computations, (i) spatial-prioritization for more data gathering under the consideration of avatar-popularity one top of physical-space and (ii) temporal-prioritization for virtual-space rendering under the avatar-popularity. Both prioritization tasks are combinatorics problems and are well-known NP-hard. The problem scale is also large, making it difficult to solve within given times. The classical deep learning cannot be the solution. Quantum-based learning algorithms can be the potential solutions due to high-performance computing capabilities, because a small number of qubits can represent an exponentially large amount of information. On top of these advantages, an improved quantum reinforcement learning (QRL) algorithm is proposed for reducing the control dimensions into a logarithmic scale. We corroborate that our proposed QRL-based algorithm for low-dimensional spatio-temporal prioritization improves convergence and performance.
A metaverse is composed of a physical-space and virtual-space, with the aim of having users in both the virtual reality and the real world experience. Prioritization is essential, but it is not straight-forwarded due to the limitation of computing resources in real-world, making it impossible to synchronize all data. Therefore, it is crucial to allocate resources based on regional preferences in physical-space and content preferences of users in virtual-space. The referencing system consists of two-stage sub-computations, (i) spatial-prioritization for more data gathering under the consideration of avatar-popularity one top of physical-space and (ii) temporal-prioritization for virtual-space rendering under the avatar-popularity. Both prioritization tasks are combinatorics problems and are well-known NP-hard. The problem scale is also large, making it difficult to solve within given times. The classical deep learning cannot be the solution. Quantum-based learning algorithms can be the potential solutions due to high-performance computing capabilities, because a small number of qubits can represent an exponentially large amount of information. On top of these advantages, an improved quantum reinforcement learning (QRL) algorithm is proposed for reducing the control dimensions into a logarithmic scale. We corroborate that our proposed QRL-based algorithm for low-dimensional spatio-temporal prioritization improves convergence and performance.
In modern network applications, the concept of metaverse is an emerging technology, and one of its key characteristics is the separation between the physical-space of the users and the virtual meta-space of the avatars. Based on this, a novel quantum multi-agent reinforcement learning (QMARL)-based scheduler, prioritizing the improvement of the performance of meta-space rendering is proposed in this article. The increase in performance can be achieved by controlling the number of utilized point cloud segments depending on avatar-popularity under the consideration of physical-space constraints. During this process, QMARL-centered quantum artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are utilized for sequential scheduling action decision-making over time. By utilizing this QMARL, our proposed scheduler is designed to reduce the number of scheduling action dimensions into logarithmic scales. This is beneficial in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era as the number of usable qubits is inherently limited. After this QMARL-based scheduling, the scheduled regions will be re-constructed over meta-space with prioritized point cloud registration. Finally, our performance evaluation results show that our proposed scheduler outperforms classical multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL)-based scheduling in terms of utility between 12.6 and 20.7 percent, under various avatar distributions.
Exploring the convergence of quantum computing and machine learning, this paper delves into Quantum Reinforcement Learning (QRL) with a specific focus on Variational Quantum Circuits (VQC). Alongside a comprehensive examination of the field, the study presents a concrete implementation of QRL tailored to foundational gym environments. Leveraging principles from Quantum Computing, experiments reveal QRL’s potential in enhancing reinforcement learning tasks within these environments, showcasing notable space optimization for RL models. Quantitative results indicate a reduction in the number of trainable parameters by up to 90% when compared to classical approaches, significantly improving efficiency, mainly due to quantum principles of superposition and entanglement. This highlights the promising implications of integrating quantum computing techniques to address challenges and advance capabilities in fundamental reinforcement learning scenarios. Furthermore, the study discusses the adaptability of QRL algorithms to diverse problem domains, suggesting their potential for scalability and applicability beyond simple environments. Such versatility underscores the robustness and practical relevance of QRL methodologies in real-world scenarios, positioning them as valuable tools for tackling complex reinforcement learning challenges.
This paper explores the application of Quantum-Enhanced Reinforcement Learning (QRL) to robotics, aiming to accelerate learning speeds and enable more intelligent decision-making in complex environments. Traditional reinforcement learning algorithms often struggle with scalability and convergence, particularly when dealing with high-dimensional state spaces and complex environments. Quantum computing offers the potential to overcome these limitations by leveraging quantum mechanics to perform computations that are intractable for classical computers. We propose a novel QRL framework that utilizes quantum-enhanced reinforcement learning to improve exploration, adaptation, and overall performance. The core mechanism involves employing quantum circuits to represent and manipulate the state space, facilitating more efficient learning and potentially uncovering novel strategies. This research investigates the feasibility and potential impact of QRL on robotic control, focusing on scenarios requiring rapid adaptation and robust decision-making in dynamic environments. We present preliminary results demonstrating the efficacy of our approach in a simulated robotic task involving navigation and obstacle avoidance.
Quantum Reinforcement Learning (QRL) represents a groundbreaking approach at the intersection of quantum computing and artificial intelligence, promising to revolutionize decision-making processes across various domains. This chapter explores the fundamental principles of QRL and its diverse applications in critical sectors, including transportation networks, healthcare, financial decision-making, and smart energy systems. By leveraging the computational advantages of quantum algorithms, QRL enhances traditional reinforcement learning techniques, enabling more efficient data processing and improved strategic decision-making capabilities. Case studies within this chapter illustrate the transformative potential of QRL in optimizing logistics, improving medical imaging, and enhancing energy management strategies. The findings underscore the need for further exploration of quantum applications to fully harness their capabilities and address contemporary challenges. This comprehensive examination provides a solid foundation for researchers and practitioners aiming to integrate quantum technologies into real-world applications, paving the way for innovative solutions and sustainable advancements.
Metaverse refers to the intersection of parallel virtual worlds with their physical counterparts by allowing users to interact with virtual people, objects, and environments. Resource allocation in various aspects of Metaverse domains, called as MetaSlices hereinafter, is a crucial optimization research problem. To serve this purpose, we consider a MetaSlice framework with the notion of sharing resources among common functions and enable placing time-sensitive services at the edge of multi-tier architecture in proximity to users. Unfortunately, the classical Integer Linear Programming is inappropriate for such heavily constrained optimization problem due to the extensive running time and memory. Hence, we model a novel Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) formulation to simultaneously optimize resources and secure Quality of Service for MetaSlices as a paradigm shift towards quantum computing. Furthermore, we propose to employ a hybrid classical-quantum WSQA to optimize resource under uncertainty, offer ultra-low running time, and increase service acceptance rate/scalability in resource-hungry and dynamic Metaverse system. Extensive simulation results demonstrate that WSQA outperforms other classical and standalone quantum annealing approaches, even with the limited availability of qubits (quantum resources). Thus, this research paves the way to decrease massive resource fabrication costs and upgrade profit margin for Metaverse Internet Service Providers, while simultaneously providing real-time services for Metaverse users.
Mobile edge computing (MEC) has revolutionized the way computational tasks are offloaded and latency is reduced by leveraging edge servers close to end devices. Efficient resource allocation and task offloading are crucial for enhancing system performance in MEC environments. Traditional reinforcement learning (RL) approaches have shown promise in optimizing resource allocation and task offloading problems. However, they often face challenges such as high computational complexity and the need for extensive training data. Quantum reinforcement learning (QRL) emerges as a promising solution to overcome these limitations by leveraging quantum computing principles to enhance efficiency and scalability. In this paper, we propose a hybrid quantum-classical non-sequential model for joint resource allocation and task offloading in MEC systems. Our model combines the advantages of RL in handling environmental dynamics and quantum computing in reducing adjustable parameters and accelerating the training process. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our proposed algorithm can achieve higher training and inference performance under various parameter settings compared to traditional RL models and previous QRL models.