Sumitomo Corporation, Tohoku University, OneSky Start Quantum Technology Demonstration for Real-Time Control of Multiple Air Mobility

Sumitomo Corporation, Tohoku University, and OneSky Systems, Inc. (hereafter, OneSky), an unmanned aerial vehicle control system development company, are working to realize a future in which many air mobility vehicles fly. Until December this year, we will conduct a demonstration experiment on real-time three-dimensional traffic control that utilizes driving.

Air mobility is expected to shorten travel time and eliminate traffic congestion in urban areas, improve the convenience of travel on remote islands and mountainous areas, and speed up emergency transportation and transportation of goods. Development is progressing.

In the latter half of the 2030s, many large and small air mobility vehicles are expected to fly over the ground, and real-time control of optimal routes and flight schedules is required to realize this. This design requires instantaneous calculation of a huge amount of data combining variables such as flight performance, payload, and destination for each air mobility aircraft, as well as external variables such as weather conditions and emergencies. It is considered unfeasible on a computer of the type due to limitations in processing power.

In the demonstration, quantum computers were used to design optimal routes and flight schedules for multiple aircraft in real time. Sumitomo Corporation plans and operates the demonstration, applying Tohoku University's quantum computing technology to OneSky's unmanned aircraft control system to create a high-precision trajectory assuming air mobility navigation in urban areas lined with skyscrapers. Conduct a simulation.

Sumitomo Corporation invested in OneSky in April 2020 through Sumitomo Corporation of Americas to promote its air mobility business. In March 2021, the company will launch the Quantum Transformation (QX) project, which will lead social transformation through the use of quantum computing, aiming to implement quantum technology in various business areas.

Tohoku University is conducting world-leading research in numerous demonstration experiments using quantum computing. Until now, we have been promoting the spread of quantum computing technology and its application in industry, and in recent years, as a result, we have announced evacuation route search during disasters such as tsunamis and efficient delivery technology for unmanned guided vehicles in factories. In March 2021, we signed a joint research agreement with Sumitomo Corporation to accelerate the application of quantum computers to business.

OneSky develops and sells unmanned aircraft control systems that set safe routes for unmanned aircraft, which are essential for the air mobility society. We aim to build a Through this demonstration using quantum computers, the three parties aim to realize real-time design of optimal routes and flight schedules, contributing to the acceleration of social implementation of air mobility.