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It's a brave new world for car manufacturers. After a century of development and refinement, the combustion engine is going extinct as Europe shifts to alternative energy.
However, electric motors are only one aspect of the future of automobiles. A million-mile battery is getting closer, and completely autonomous vehicles may be just around the corner. European automakers are working more and more closely with quantum computing firms to negotiate the path to these technologies.
The European automotive sector has a long and distinguished history of technological innovation. From the Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau in 1898 to the amazing McLaren Artura in 2023, Europe has consistently led the way in the sector. In light of this, let's consider what lies ahead.
The industry must make a quantum leap forward in its upcoming actions. The automotive sector stands to benefit greatly from quantum computing and other quantum-based technologies, although these fields are still in their infancy. Autonomous driving is the first opportunity that presents itself. Despite the early enthusiasm, automakers and researchers are still struggling with the self-driving car conundrum. There seem to be hundreds of edge cases that AI cannot handle for every step forward made by businesses like BMW, Tesla, and Waymo.
It's likely still a long way off until there is a quantum computer small enough to fit inside a car and act as the automobile's brain. However, quantum speedup—the capacity of quantum processors to carry out operations and/or run algorithms that a classical system couldn't do in a useful period —could provide advancements in some key areas for autonomous vehicle systems.
To develop new approaches for leveraging hybrid quantum neural networks to enhance image recognition, Terra Quantum AG scientists recently joined Volkswagen. The possibility for quantum technologies to significantly advance the quality assurance process was proved by this particular experiment.
The researchers essentially exploited quantum-powered AI to enhance the precision of its image-detection capabilities to enhance the caliber of the car production process. However, by improving the speed and accuracy of neural networks' image processing, the methods they are developing could also be utilized to give self-driving cars better "eyes."
Pascal, a Paris-based quantum startup, has also collaborated with BMW on another quantum-related project. Together with the German-owned automaker, the company hopes to develop new, lighter, and more durable materials for car construction. The team hopes to eventually achieve a fast, accurate, and zero-prototyping design process to ensure a clean energy approach to every aspect of the car-making process.
By 2030, researchers project that the market for quantum technology will be close to $500 billion. The upcoming surge in quantum computer gear has BMW and Volkswagen as early adopters. Every other significant automaker, though, undoubtedly has a strategy in place to join the fray. Additionally, the transition to driverless vehicles will require a fundamentally new viewpoint on supply and logistics, an area in which the quantum sector has made significant progress and made significant investments.
Finally, the future of the manufacturing industry as a whole, not just the automotive sector, is quantum. However, it may take some time for things to get moving. The good news is that our analysis shows that car manufacturers stand to benefit as early adopters in the rapidly expanding European quantum startup economy.
Yash Ranjan09/20/2022
