Xanadu, Rolls-Royce, and Riverlane unlock dramatic improvements for applications to jet engine airflow simulations using quantum computing

Core Insights - The collaboration between Xanadu, Rolls-Royce, and Riverlane has successfully advanced quantum computing applications for modeling jet engine airflow, significantly reducing simulation runtimes from weeks to under an hour, thus enabling new prototyping opportunities in the aerospace industry [1][5] Company Summaries Xanadu - Xanadu is a Canadian quantum computing company founded in 2016, focused on building practical quantum computers and developing the open-source software library PennyLane [7] - The company has successfully reduced prototyping runtimes by up to 1000-fold for Rolls-Royce, addressing the long wait times associated with traditional simulations [4] - Xanadu's Catalyst compiler was instrumental in optimizing quantum-classical programs for Rolls-Royce, emphasizing the importance of hybrid quantum-classical computing [4][5] Rolls-Royce - Rolls-Royce is a major player in the aerospace industry, providing power solutions and services across multiple sectors, including defense and civil aviation [9][10] - The company reported an annual underlying revenue of £17.8 billion and an underlying operating profit of £2.46 billion in 2024, indicating strong financial performance [11] - Rolls-Royce's collaboration with Xanadu and Riverlane is part of its strategy to leverage advanced technologies to enhance its design processes and product offerings [3][5] Riverlane - Riverlane specializes in Quantum Error Correction (QEC) and partners with over 60% of the world's quantum computer companies to address challenges in achieving utility-scale quantum systems [12] - The company contributed novel quantum algorithms to the collaboration, enhancing the overall efficiency of the simulation workflow for Rolls-Royce [4][5] - Riverlane's expertise in QEC is crucial for unlocking the potential of quantum computing in various industries, including aerospace [12]