This paper explores the application of quantum computing, specifically quantum annealing using D-Wave systems, to optimize parallel test execution in software test automation. The work formulates test scheduling as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem, incorporating execution time, resource cost, and test dependencies. Experimental results demonstrate that quantum-enhanced scheduling significantly reduces total execution time and improves resource utilization compared to classical scheduling techniques such as Round-Robin and Genetic Algorithms. The study highlights the practical potential of quantum computing for improving CI/CD pipelines and large-scale automated testing.
This paper explores the application of quantum computing, specifically quantum annealing using D-Wave systems, to optimize parallel test execution in software test automation. The work formulates test scheduling as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem, incorporating execution time, resource cost, and test dependencies. Experimental results demonstrate that quantum-enhanced scheduling significantly reduces total execution time and improves resource utilization compared to classical scheduling techniques such as Round-Robin and Genetic Algorithms. The study highlights the practical potential of quantum computing for improving CI/CD pipelines and large-scale automated testing.
Test automation plays a crucial role in modern software development, ensuring faster releases and higher software quality. However, optimizing parallel test execution remains a challenge due to resource constraints and scheduling inefficiencies. This research explores the potential of quantum computing, specifically quantum annealing using D-Wave systems, to enhance test execution efficiency. By formulating test suite scheduling as a combinatorial optimization problem, we leverage quantum annealing to achieve optimal test distribution across available resources. Our proposed approach significantly reduces execution time and improves resource utilization compared to classical optimization techniques. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of quantum-enhanced scheduling, highlighting the potential of quantum computing in revolutionizing test automation.
Quantum annealing emerges as a promising approach for tackling complex scheduling problems such as the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP). This study represents the first application of quantum annealing to solve the RCPSP, analyzing 12 well-known mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulations and converting the most qubit-efficient one into a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) model. We then solve this model using the D-wave advantage 6.3 quantum annealer, comparing its performance against classical computer solvers. Our results indicate significant potential, particularly for small to medium-sized instances. Further, we introduce time-to-target and Atos Q-score metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of quantum annealing and reverse quantum annealing. The paper also explores advanced quantum optimization techniques, such as customized anneal schedules, enhancing our understanding and application of quantum computing in operations research.
As systems become more complex and large-scale, there is a need for more effective scheduling algorithms to maximize resource usage and minimize job completion times. The older methods of scheduling like First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) and Round Robin (RR), although easier to compute, tend to perform poorly in dynamic scenarios because they cannot manage intricate constraints and multi-objective optimization efficiently. As traditional methods approach their limit of performance, quantum computing presents a potentially fruitful avenue for conquering combinatorial challenges based on its ability to examine many states at once. This work proposes a quantum-aided scheduling framework that employs Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) formulations and quantum solvers for the purpose of improving job scheduling in distributed environments. The original contribution is the marrying of quantum optimization (with IBM Qiskit's QAOA and D-Wave's hybrid solvers) with traditional distributed computing frameworks such as Apache Spark. Google Cluster Workload Traces are employed to mimic real-world situations, and jobs are described by CPU, memory requirements, and arrival times. Once the scheduling problem has been formulated into a QUBO model, quantum algorithms produce the optimized job-to-machine assignments. The outcomes are compared against baseline classical schedulers on performance metrics including make span, throughput, and resource utilization. The experiment demonstrates that quantum-assisted scheduling significantly improves makespan and enhances resource utilization, particularly under high workloads. It also provides evidence of the feasibility of integrating quantum solvers with existing big data infrastructures.
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.
In planning and scheduling, large-scale optimization problems often have complex limits and a lot of factors, which makes them hard to answer with standard methods. Quantum annealing has become a hopeful way to deal with these problems because it can quickly look into a lot of possible solutions. This essay looks into how quantum annealing might be used to solve optimization problems in transportation and scheduling, with a focus on how it could be used for route planning, inventory management, and arranging workers. To do these optimization jobs, quantum annealing is used. This is a quantum computing method that gets the global minimum of a cost function. We use the D-Wave quantum annealer in this method. It turns the problem's limits and objective function into a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) model. The quantum annealer then works on this model to find the best answers. The suggested method combines traditional preparation methods with quantum annealing to get the best results for big schedule and transportation issues. We use quantum annealing to solve difficult multi-objective optimization problems, like reducing shipping time, cost, and resource use all at the same time. Preliminary results show that quantum annealing can make solutions much better and use computers much more efficiently than traditional methods for optimizing supplies and schedules. Quantum annealing works especially well with problems that have a lot of dimensions. It can provide scalable answers that sometimes work better than standard methods.
To increase efficiency in automotive manufacturing, newly produced vehicles can move autonomously from the production line to the distribution area. This requires an optimal placement of sensors to ensure full coverage while minimizing the number of sensors used. The underlying optimization problem poses a computational challenge due to its large-scale nature. Currently, classical solvers rely on heuristics, often yielding nonoptimal solutions for large instances, resulting in suboptimal sensor distributions and increased operational costs. We explore quantum computing methods that may outperform classical heuristics in the future. We implemented quantum annealing with D-Wave, transforming the problem into a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization formulation with one-hot and binary encoding. Hyperparameters like the penalty terms and the annealing time are optimized and the results are compared with default parameter settings. Our results demonstrate that quantum annealing is capable of solving instances derived from real-world scenarios. Through the use of decomposition techniques, we are able to scale the problem size further, bringing it closer to practical, industrial applicability. Through this work, we provide key insights into the importance of quantum annealing parametrization, demonstrating how quantum computing could contribute to cost-efficient, large-scale optimization problems once the hardware matures.