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Highlights
- With quantum algorithms aiding the design of lighter, stronger aircraft structures, even the field of aviation hasn’t been left untouched by quantum mania.
- Real-time data analysis is set to improve fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. Quantum simulations can help predict potential defects and bolster predictive maintenance.
- More efficient designs and operations thanks to quantum computing could lead to reduced carbon emissions.
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The quantum era
Quantum computing is redefining how we design, manufacture, and operate aircraft, opening the door to safer, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly air travel.
From optimizing the design and manufacturing of composite materials to enhancing in-flight operations, quantum computing is set to help aircraft become lighter, stronger, and more fuel-efficient, unlocking a new wave of innovation in the sector. By enabling sophisticated analysis of real-time data and complex simulations, quantum technology has the potential to improve everything from passenger comfort to aircraft safety
Quantum potential
Aviation—and the entire cohort of aerospace professionals—is on the cusp of grasping quantum’s full potential, and that’s enabling it to experiment at pace and think bigger than ever before.
“The shift to the ‘quantum age’... should be at least as momentous as that from the industrial to the IT age,” according to a report written by experts at NASA.
There’s a similar view at industry leader Airbus, which says it “aims to be an early adopter of quantum technologies”. The company says it is planning to use quantum algorithms to measure flight dynamics and improve navigation systems, as well as refine fluid dynamics computations and create cybersecurity systems to better protect the aerospace industry.
And at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), we are using bespoke quantum algorithms to build pathways towards solving aviation’s most complex challenges.
Quantum computing has evolved in the past few years and continues to show its promise. It can potentially revolutionise the way we design, manufacture, and operate aircraft. Imagine lighter, stronger planes with optimised flight paths, all leading to a dramatic reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. This is the future —powered by quantum—and TCS is at the forefront in this research, developing intelligent algorithms to unlock all of these groundbreaking possibilities. Partnering with the aerospace industry, we're building a more sustainable future, one quantum leap at a time.
Cutting-edge materials
One exciting area is the development and optimisation of composite materials. Quantum algorithms enable aerospace engineers to explore an unprecedented number of material configurations, resulting in aircraft structures that are lighter, stronger, and more fuel-efficient. This extends to the manufacturing process, where quantum simulations are helping perfect curing processes and predict potential defects before they occur.
A critical element of aircraft design is stress-testing components. Quantum algorithms can conduct virtual stress testing, predicting the lifespan and safety parameters for new aircraft materials before the plans leave the drawing board.
Aircraft built from these new quantum-enabled materials will be lighter, stronger, and more fuel-efficient. In addition to the improved designs, sustainability gains across multiple functions and processes would contribute to industry decarbonisation efforts.
By using quantum technologies in aviation design, we can deliver sustainability advantages in every phase of the aircraft lifecycle—from design and development to manufacturing, operation, and recycling.
Smoother journeys
In-flight operations have also seen a quantum boost. Quantum algorithms operating alongside air traffic controllers could be used to analyse weather data in real time, relative to the position of every aircraft in the sky.
By leveraging the data outputs from quantum computers, controllers could create bespoke flight paths for every plane, helping pilots route around unstable atmospheric conditions. At a time when climate change is creating more violent air turbulence, this will enhance passenger safety and comfort during flights.
Quantum computers also have the potential to collect and analyse masses of data produced by aircraft engine performance sensors. By using technology known as variational quantum eigen solvers, algorithms could optimise engine performance to save fuel in all kinds of weather.
This optimisation would not be a ‘set and forget’ process. Quantum algorithms have the power to constantly refine engine performance, ensuring fuel consumption is optimal during every phase of every flight.
Better futures
The potential impact on sustainability is particularly exciting. By enabling more efficient engine performance and reduced fuel consumption, quantum computing is paving the way for significant reductions in carbon emissions from aircraft, aligning with the industry’s focus on environmental responsibility and carbon neutrality.
As we look to the future, it is clear that quantum computing will play a pivotal role in shaping the aviation industry. From designing innovative materials at the molecular level to optimising flight operations, this technology is ushering in a new era of possibilities.
The sky is no longer the limit—by experimenting and innovating with quantum computing, the aviation industry is poised to soar to new heights of efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
