Applying Quantum Computing to Solve Multicommodity Network Flow Problem

Abstract

In this paper, the multicommodity network flow (MCNF) problem is formulated as a mixed integer programming model which is known as NP-hard, aiming to optimize the vehicle routing and minimize the total travel cost. We explore the potential of quantum computing, specifically quantum annealing, by comparing its performance in terms of solution quality and efficiency against the traditional method. Our findings indicate that quantum annealing holds significant promise for enhancing computation in large-scale transportation logistics problems.