Implementation of a Multiple Target Tracking Filter on an Adiabatic Quantum Computer

TL;DR

This paper validates the potential of adiabatic quantum computers to solve multiple target data association problems formulated as QUBO, while highlighting current limitations of available quantum hardware.

Contribution

It demonstrates the practical challenges and limitations of implementing multiple target tracking filters on existing adiabatic quantum computers.

Findings

Quantum approach is theoretically feasible for data association.

Current hardware limitations hinder practical implementation.

The work applies broadly to QUBO problems in various fields.

Abstract

Recent work at Fraunhofer FKIE shows that Morefield's method for multiple target data association can in theory be solved on an adiabatic quantum computer. The present paper validates the theory and examines the significant limitations of currently available adiabatic quantum computers for solving the data association problem. The limitations of such architectures are both theoretical and practical in nature, and both are discussed. The data association problem is formulated as a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problem; consequently, much of the discussion is relevant to other applications which are, or can be, posed as QUBO problems.