A Match Made in Madrid: Quantum Computing and Digital Twins

Multiverse Computing teams up with Bosch to optimize its Automotive Electronics plant.

Multiverse Computing says its Singularity SDK runs on all quantum platform. (Source: Multiverse Computing.)

Multiverse Computing says its technology runs on all quantum platforms. (Source: Multiverse Computing.)

Quantum computing company Multiverse Computing announced this week that it is collaborating on a research project with engineering firm Bosch, which hopes to use quantum technology to create a digital twin of its Automotive Electronics plant in Madrid, Spain.

Quantum computing and digital twins are both emerging technologies with red hot potential. Quantum computers replace the binary logic of digital computers with bizarre quantum bits, not merely 1s or 0s but every possible combination of the two states. Digital twins are a full virtual replica of a factory that can be used to monitor and improve operations with the help of sensor data from connected machines.

“This is one of the first applications of quantum computing with a digital twin. We believe it will provide a whole new level of insight and advantage to Bosch’s manufacturing operations,” said Enrique Lizaso Olmos, CEO of Multiverse Computing.

Multiverse Computing didn’t expand on the quantum computers or algorithms it expects to use in the project. The company’s website describes its Singularity software development kit (SDK) as quantum agnostic—capable of running on all quantum platforms—with a particular focus on the finance industry.

For Bosch, the collaboration is part of an ongoing Industry 4.0 initiative that it believes could improve productivity by up to 25 percent.

“The collaboration with Multiverse is focused on improving the productivity and competitiveness of our factory by researching the use of quantum and quantum-inspired machine learning tools, aligned with our global Smart Factory strategy,” said Carlos Conde, Technical Vice President of the Bosch factory in Madrid, in a press release.

The current phase of the companies’ joint research is to develop and implement customized quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms for the Madrid plant, according to Multiverse Computing. The company expects to have the initial results later this year.

Written by

Michael Alba

Michael is a senior editor at engineering.com. He covers computer hardware, design software, electronics, and more. Michael holds a degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta.