Quantum robotics

Field of robotics, physics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quantum robotics is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the intersection of robotics and quantum mechanics. This field, in particular, explores the applications of quantum phenomena such as quantum entanglement within the realm of robotics. Examples of its applications include quantum communication in multi-agent cooperative robotic scenarios, the use of quantum algorithms in performing robotics tasks, and the integration of quantum devices (e.g., quantum detectors) in robotic systems.^[1]^[2]

Introduction

The free-space quantum communication between mobile platforms was proposed for reconfigurable quantum key distribution (QKD) applications using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs, a.k.a. drones)^[3] in 2017. This technology was later advanced in various aspects in mobile drone and vehicle platforms in several configurations such as drone-to-drone, drone-to-moving vehicle, and vehicle-to-vehicle systems.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Some research has contributed to low size, weight and power quantum key distribution system for small form UAVs,^[9] characterization of a polarization-based receiver for mobile free space optical QKD,^[10] and optical-relayed entanglement distribution using drones as mobile nodes.^[11] The topic of free-space quantum communication between mobile platforms, which was initially implemented to fulfill the need for free-space QKD and entanglement distribution using mobile nodes, was brought into robotics domain as an emerging interdisciplinary mechatronics topic to investigate and explore the interface between the quantum technologies and robotic systems domain.^[1] The main advantage of such integrated technology is the guaranteed security in communication between multiagent and cooperative autonomous systems. Other advances are anticipated.^[1]

Quantum entanglement

According to quantum mechanics, entanglement occurs when more than one particles become connected. If the state of one particle change then it will instantly change the sate of other particles regardless of their distance. Entangled sensors do the same kind of work and achieve strong sensitivity. A group of quantum robots can measure magnetic fields, gravitational fields and other physical properties using entangled sensors with high rate of accuracy. Again the connection of one robot to other is increased (become strong) by quantum entanglement.

Quantum teleportation

Quantum teleportation is the transfer of quantum information (not physical objects). This is used in case of multi robot process. One robot is programmed with a complex quantum update. Then that robot can teleport that complex quantum information (the update) to other robots. This teleportation or communication is very secure because all the work is done in quantum state.

Kinematics

Quantum computing has been proposed as being optimal for calculating inverse kinematics values.^[12]^[13]

Alice and Bob robots

In the realm of quantum mechanics, the names Alice and Bob are frequently employed to illustrate various phenomena, protocols, and applications. These include their roles in QKD, quantum cryptography, entanglement, and teleportation. The terms "Alice Robot" and "Bob Robot"^[1] serve as analogous expressions that merge the concepts of Alice and Bob from quantum mechanics with mechatronic mobile platforms (such as robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles). For example, the Alice Robot functions as a transmitter platform that communicates with the Bob Robot, housing the receiving detectors.

Experimental quantum entanglement via spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC)
Experimental entanglement (including laser source) via SPDC
Alice and Bob setup in a polarization quantum entanglement experiment
Schematic of robots sharing entangled photons between moving robotic platforms in a quantum communication setup

References

[1]
Multiple sources:
Farbod Khoshnoud, Lucas Lamata, Clarence W. De Silva, Marco B. Quadrelli, Quantum Teleportation for Control of Dynamic Systems and Autonomy, Journal of Mechatronic Systems and Control, Volume 49, Issue 3, pp. 124-131, 2021.

Lamata, Lucas; Quadrelli, Marco B.; de Silva, Clarence W.; Kumar, Prem; Kanter, Gregory S.; Ghazinejad, Maziar; Khoshnoud, Farbod (12 October 2021). "Quantum Mechatronics". Electronics. 10 (20): 2483. doi:10.3390/electronics10202483. hdl:2429/80217.

Farbod Khoshnoud, Maziar Ghazinejad, Automated quantum entanglement and cryptography for networks of robotic systems, IEEE/ASME International Conference on Mechatronic and Embedded Systems and Applications (MESA), IDETC-CIE 2021, Virtual Conference: August 17 – 20, DETC2021-71653, 2021.

Lamata, Lucas; Aiello, Clarice D.; Quadrelli, Bruno Marco; Ghazinejad, Maziar; de Silva, Clarence W.; Khoshnoud, Farbod; Bahr, Behnam (23 April 2021), Modernizing Mechatronics course with Quantum Engineering, The American Society for Engineering Education, retrieved 7 September 2023

Khoshnoud, Farbod; Esat, Ibrahim I.; de Silva, Clarence W.; Quadrelli, Marco B. (April 2019). "Quantum Network of Cooperative Unmanned Autonomous Systems". Unmanned Systems. 07 (2): 137–145. doi:10.1142/S2301385019500055. ISSN 2301-3850. S2CID 149842737. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

Farbod Khoshnoud, Marco B. Quadrelli, Enrique Galvez, Clarence W. de Silva, Shayan Javaherian, B. Bahr, M. Ghazinejad, A. S. Eddin, M. El-Hadedy, Quantum Brain-Computer Interface, ASEE PSW, 2023, https://peer.asee.org/quantum-brain-computer-interface%7C.
[2]
Tandon, Prateek; Lam, Stanley; Shih, Ben; Mehta, Tanay; Mitev, Alex; Ong, Zhiyang (2017). "Introduction". Quantum Robotics: A Primer on Current Science and Future Perspectives. Synthesis Lectures on Quantum Computing. Springer International Publishing. pp. 1–3. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-02520-4_1. ISBN 978-3-031-02520-4. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
[3]
P. G. Kwiat, and D. J. Gauthier, "Reconfigurable free-space quantum cryptography system," U.S. Patent, No.: US 2017/0250805 A1, 2017].
[4]
A. Conrad, D. Chaffee, J. Chapman, C. Chopp, K. Herdon, A. Hill, D. Sanchez-Rosales, J. Szabo, D. J. Gauthier, and P. G. Kwiat, "Drone-based Quantum Key Distribution," Bulletin of the American Physical Society, March Meeting, Volume 64, Number 2, March 4–8, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2019].
[5]
S. Isaac, A. Conrad, A. Hill, K. Herndon, B. Wilens, D. Chaffee, D. Sanchez-Rosales, R. Cochran, D. Gauthier, and P. Kwiat, "Drone-Based Quantum Key Distribution," 2020 Conference on Lasers and ElectroOptics (CLEO), San Jose, CA, USA, 2020, pp. 1-2.
[6]
Andrew Conrad, Samantha Isaac, Roderick Cochran, Daniel Sanchez-Rosales, Tahereh Rezaei, Timur Javid, A. J. Schroeder, Grzegorz Golba, Daniel Gauthier, Paul Kwiat, “Drone-Based Quantum Communication Links,” Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, Volume 12446, Quantum Computing, Communication, and Simulation III 2023, San Francisco, USA, February 2023].
[7]
Florian Moll, Sebastian Nauerth, Christian Fuchs, Joachim Horwath, Markus Rau, Harald Weinfurter, "Communication system technology for demonstration of BB84 quantum key distribution in optical aircraft downlinks," Proc. SPIE 8517, Laser Communication and Propagation through the Atmosphere and Oceans, 851703 (24 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929739].
[8]
Kagan, E., & Ben-Gal, I. (2011) (14 December 2011). Navigation of quantum-controlled mobile robots (PDF). Recent advances in mobile robotics, 15, 311-220. ISBN 978-953-307-909-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
[9]
C. Quintana, P. Sibson, G. Erry, Y. Thueux, E. Kingston, T. Ismail, G. Faulkner, J. Kennard, K. Gebremicael, C. Clark, C. Erven, S. Chuard, M. Watson, J. Rarity, and D. O'Brien, "Low size, weight and power quantum key distribution system for small form unmanned aerial vehicles," Proc. SPIE 10910, Free-Space Laser Communications XXXI, 1091014, March 2019.].
[10]
W. Miller, A. DeCesare, R. Snyder, D. Carvalho, P. M. Alsing, D. Ahn, (2020). Toward mobile free space optical QKD: characterization of a polarization-based receiver, Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 11391, id. 1139105 10 pp., 2020.].
[11]
H.-Y. Liu, X.-H. Tian, C. Gu, P. Fan, X. Ni, R. Yang, J.-N. Zhang, M. Hu, J. Guo, X. Cao, X. Hu, G. Zhao, Y.-Q. Lu, Y.-X. Gong, Z. Xie, and S.-N. Zhu, "Optical-Relayed Entanglement Distribution Using Drones as Mobile Nodes," Physical Review Letters, 126, 020503, 2021.
[12]
Gosavi, Atharva (August 25, 2025). "Quantum breakthrough promises real-time humanoid robot control". Interesting Engineering. Retrieved 2026-02-28.
[13]
Otani, Takuya; Takanishi, Atsuo; Hara, Nobuyuki; Takita, Yutaka; Kimura, Koichi (2025-08-08). "Quantum computation for robot posture optimization". Scientific Reports. 15 (1): 28508. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-12109-0. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 12334678.

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