Case Study: Thales transforms satellite scheduling with Pasqal quantum computing

Thales scales satellite scheduling across 68 countries with Pasqal

Thales, a global leader in defence, aerospace, and cyber & digital technologies, faced growing complexity in scheduling missions for modern satellite constellations. Traditional algorithms struggled with the combinatorial optimization required for tasks like battery recharging and data dumping. To address this challenge, Thales collaborated with vendor Pasqal to explore a quantum computing solution using Pasqal's neutral atom quantum processors.

Pasqal worked with Thales to model the satellite scheduling problem as a Maximum Independent Set problem, which is well-suited to their quantum technology. They developed and tested algorithms on Pasqal's emulator and early-stage quantum computers, drafting a quantum-centric approach to improve scheduling flexibility and reaction times. This collaboration, which showcased the adaptability of Pasqal's technology, is set to scale up solutions for next-generation constellations, with the potential to optimize mission planning, reduce operational costs, and enable faster response times for urgent tasks.

Thales