Quantum Brilliance and Canadian National Railway Launch Research to Explore Portable Quantum Devices for Onboard Logistics Optimization
March 28, 2022
Toward Mobile Quantum Optimization: An Industry First
Quantum computing has long been associated with specialized laboratories and large, cryogenically cooled hardware. Yet, in March 2022, a groundbreaking partnership challenged this paradigm. Quantum Brilliance, an Australian-German quantum hardware startup, teamed with Canadian National Railway (CN) to investigate how portable quantum devices could enhance rail freight operations. The collaboration is designed to test compact, diamond-based accelerators capable of operating at room temperature—bringing quantum computing directly into the cab of locomotives and across CN’s extensive North American freight network.
This effort represents one of the earliest attempts to test quantum processors in rugged, mobile environments. Unlike previous research that relied heavily on cloud-based access to centralized quantum machines, this project is focused on “quantum at the edge,” where decisions must be made instantly and in direct proximity to moving assets.
Quantum Brilliance: A Different Hardware Path
Quantum Brilliance’s technology is distinct within the crowded field of quantum hardware. Instead of relying on superconducting circuits or trapped ions that require cryogenic cooling and complex infrastructure, the company’s systems are built using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in synthetic diamonds.
This architecture offers three major advantages:
Room-temperature operation – eliminating the need for dilution refrigerators.
Compact form factor – small enough to be housed in data centers, warehouses, or even vehicles.
Energy efficiency – significantly lower consumption compared to cryogenic quantum machines.
While today’s diamond-based accelerators are relatively small in scale, typically managing between two and five logical qubits, they are particularly well-suited for optimization problems. In hybrid quantum-classical workflows, even small accelerators can assist in solving combinatorial bottlenecks that slow traditional systems. For CN, the value lies in deploying these devices directly at the edge of operations, where they can improve scheduling and routing in real time.
The CN Rail Network: A Complex Testbed
Canadian National Railway operates one of the largest and most integrated rail systems in North America. Its 20,000-mile network stretches across Canada and deep into the United States, with transcontinental routes linking Halifax to Vancouver and lines extending into the Midwest and Gulf Coast.
CN’s operations are tightly interwoven with ports, intermodal terminals, and trucking networks, creating immense logistical complexity. Key operational challenges include:
Prioritizing cargo across trains under strict delivery windows.
Managing rail congestion during peak shipping cycles.
Optimizing fuel usage on long-haul routes.
Scheduling rolling stock maintenance with minimal downtime.
These challenges involve thousands of simultaneous variables that must be computed in near real time. CN has already invested in artificial intelligence, IoT-enabled sensors, and predictive analytics. The March 2022 partnership with Quantum Brilliance marks its first step into quantum-enabled logistics.
Research Scope: Three Pilot Use Cases
The joint initiative identified three initial use cases for field testing quantum devices onboard locomotives and at rail yards.
Train Consist Optimization
Quantum solvers could dynamically determine optimal car groupings based on destination, weight, speed, and priority. When freight cars are added or removed mid-route, the onboard quantum device could adjust the consist plan instantly.Fuel Routing Optimization
Trains consume massive amounts of fuel, making route optimization critical. Quantum Brilliance’s accelerators will be tested for their ability to calculate real-time switch points and acceleration curves that minimize fuel burn, incorporating live telemetry from locomotives.Maintenance Window Scheduling
Freight reliability depends on predictive maintenance. Using sensor data, onboard quantum devices could triage equipment issues and generate optimized repair schedules, reducing unplanned downtime.
Each of these use cases emphasizes low-latency decision-making, where the ability to compute locally provides a strategic advantage over cloud-based solutions.
Advantages of Portable Quantum Accelerators
The CN–Quantum Brilliance project aims to validate several potential benefits of edge-deployed quantum devices:
Reduced latency – decisions can be made onboard without transmitting data to central servers.
Low energy demand – enabling deployment in mobile environments like locomotives.
Hybrid orchestration – functioning as co-processors to existing AI and optimization systems.
Even small-scale devices may provide measurable improvements in optimization cycles, particularly when combined with classical solvers.
Supporting Infrastructure and Research Collaboration
The research project aligns with CN’s broader digital transformation efforts. The railway is actively rolling out IoT sensors across rolling stock, expanding its use of predictive AI for track and railcar health, and building out 5G-enabled edge computing.
Quantum Brilliance, meanwhile, has secured international support from the National Research Council of Canada and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. This underscores the cross-continental nature of the project and its alignment with Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, released in 2022, which specifically encourages logistics and transportation quantum pilots.
Challenges and Open Questions
While the announcement sparked excitement, several limitations remain:
Low qubit counts limit the scale of problems that can be solved today.
Noise and environmental conditions could affect performance in mobile settings.
Integration with CN’s legacy systems requires middleware development and operator training.
Nevertheless, both partners emphasized that the project’s value lies in testing practicality, not theoretical breakthroughs. By conducting real-world trials, they aim to uncover where portable quantum devices can already add measurable value.
Global Implications: Quantum at the Edge
The collaboration signals a new chapter for logistics quantumization. Until now, most quantum projects have been confined to research labs or accessed through the cloud. Bringing devices directly into operational environments—on trains, in warehouses, or at intermodal yards—marks a significant shift.
Globally, the rail sector is watching closely. Freight operators in Europe and Asia are exploring quantum optimization for scheduling, but few have considered deploying hardware onboard trains themselves. If successful, CN’s trial could serve as a blueprint for railroads worldwide.
Next Steps and Expansion
Following the March announcement, CN and Quantum Brilliance outlined their next steps:
Installing prototype quantum accelerators in select locomotive cabs.
Running hybrid optimization workloads in parallel with classical systems.
Expanding scope to include customs clearance and intermodal scheduling in collaboration with border authorities.
Quantum Brilliance is also pursuing additional partnerships across Australia, Germany, and the United States, with interest from postal logistics, short-haul rail, and warehouse automation providers.
Conclusion: Toward a New Era of Embedded Quantum Logistics
The March 28, 2022 announcement of the CN–Quantum Brilliance partnership highlights an inflection point in the quantum computing journey. Rather than waiting for large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers, industry leaders are beginning to explore where smaller, specialized devices can deliver practical benefits today.
By embedding quantum accelerators directly into locomotives and maintenance facilities, CN and Quantum Brilliance are testing whether optimization can be made faster, more adaptive, and more resilient at the operational edge. If successful, this initiative could demonstrate that the future of quantum computing lies not only in centralized data centers but also in compact, embedded systems shaping logistics decisions in real time.
As global freight networks face mounting pressure to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and meet environmental goals, portable quantum devices could offer a critical competitive edge—marking the beginning of a new era in rail and logistics innovation.