Quantum computing reporting continues to improve, but error correction remains elusive. Quantum computing research has achieved many positive results in quantum computing and the improvement of classical algorithms. Additionally, it inspires new hardware that has the potential to improve the way businesses optimize. Last year, SAP and Fujitsu collaborated to test Fujitsu’s new quantum-inspired Digital Annealing Unit (DAU).
If you ask quantum researchers what keeps them up at night, error correction might be their likely answer. So while quantum computing is still making great strides, quantum advantage may sometimes be exaggerated in the media.However, to alleviate this situation, a new type of quantumInspire Computing has matured. The original simulated annealing has resulted in dedicated simulated annealing machines. These usually work on optimization problems, finding the best way to do something.
Efficient optimization with Fujitsu’s digital annealing unit
Fujitsu’s Digital Annealing Unit (DAU) is a quantum-inspired machine. It works by finding the best combination when a list of possible combinations is presented, and it works very quickly. Last year, SAP conducted a proof-of-concept with Fujitsu to test and benchmark its DAU, with some promising results.
As mentioned in a recent blog post, DAU was tested against some fairly abstract but standardized research problems in the Quadratic Programming Library (QPLIB). We also tested the possibility of seamless integration of SAP solutions with DAU, which proved to be simple to implement. As a result, SAP was able to demonstrate that DAU has real potential and mark an important milestone in the journey of quantum-inspired computing toward practical, real-world, standard business solutions. We are currently working with Fujitsu to extend this potential to other optimization problems, such as creating more efficient manufacturing plans, vehicle space optimization, and ultimately a wider range of use case applications.
While still a proof of concept, these connections and benchmark results demonstrate the potential of simulated annealing to solve real-world problems, such as balancing the load across all manufacturing toolsets by using a DAU as a machine dedicated to optimization tasks, rather than a general-purpose reusable Programming computer.
As the world’s leading provider of enterprise applications, SAP continues to help innovate and bring the benefits of quantum computing to customers through our solutions.
Benchmarking current optimization methods
Before investing more resources, SAP wanted to test DAU on problems that could serve as industry or academic optimization standards. This is where QPLIB comes in. It’s essentially a giant repository of math problems, none of which map to potential use cases, but all of which can determine what kind of problems a DAU might be good at solving. The advantage of this approach is that it allows us to benchmark current optimization methods, although the use case context has been removed. Take drug trials, for example, where scientists test new drugs against those already on the market in test tubes. It may not show side effects, but it will show whether it’s worth the risk of testing it on live subjects.
DAU takes a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problem as input to build a cost-benefit matrix. It then outputs a string of 1’s and 0’s to tell the user whether it is best to contain, for example, a stocking unit where the variance should be minimized. The key is that it must either be faster or output a more optimized solution.
SAP sincerely hopes that this quantum-inspired optimization will help our customers bridge the optimization gap until quantum hardware becomes more reliable. Incorporating Fujitsu’s DAU into SAP technology helps create a platform designed to address the gaps that will emerge in the coming years. This significant advancement is a key achievement as SAP moves into the next era of enterprise software designed to enhance business operations and drive value creation.
Together, SAP and Fujitsu are pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible as the industry looks to a future transformed by advances in quantum computing.
Paul McElligott is a researcher in the SAP Quantum eXplorers Group.
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