The Japanese automaker claims the successful demonstration is a world’s first.
Nissan Motor Company has announced that it has conducted research on vehicle aerodynamic analysis using quantum computing in collaboration with local technology company Quemix Inc.
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The Japanese automaker claims that in their joint research, the two companies “successfully demonstrated, for the first time in the world, the application of a quantum algorithm to vehicle aerodynamic simulation, confirming its effectiveness,” adding that the results suggest “the potential to reduce computation time from approximately one day, as required by conventional methods, to just minutes.”
Nissan and Quemix have claim to have developed a new hybrid algorithm that combines a quantum computer with a classical computer for fluid dynamics calculations around vehicles. In this architecture, the quantum computer is responsible for the core computational processes, while the classical computer handles supporting calculations. This division of roles improves overall computational efficiency.
Using this algorithm, aerodynamic simulations of complex geometries were executed on a quantum computer simulator, and it was confirmed that the fluid behavior could be reproduced with accuracy comparable to that of conventional classical computing methods.
Currently, aerodynamic analysis typically relies on methods such as the Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM), which requires long computation times, a challenge that remains significant. Nissan said that the “application of quantum computing to this field has been constrained by technical limitations, including the inability to directly apply existing methods. This research represents a practical approach to addressing these challenges.”
Nissan pointed out that as it “advances the digitalization of its development processes, it is also exploring the use of quantum computing across a wide range of fields, including materials development, mobility services, and optimization of energy management using EVs. This study demonstrates the applicability of quantum computing to the highly versatile field of fluid dynamics analysis. Nissan and Quemix have jointly filed a patent for these research results.”
Going forward, Nissan and Quemix plan to further advance this research toward the practical application of quantum-enabled aerodynamic simulation, while Nissan will explore opportunities to apply these technologies to future vehicle development processes.
