# IonQ | IonQ and DESY Tackle the Gate Assignment Problem

DevFeed: [IonQ | IonQ and DESY Tackle the Gate Assignment Problem](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/ionq-ionq-and-desy-tackle-the-gate-assignment-problem-83804.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://ionq.com/blog/ionq-and-desy-tackle-the-gate-assignment-problem>)

Author: IonQ Staff

Published: 2026-01-15T23:19:20Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [IonQ](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ionq.md>)

Topics: [Combinatorial optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/combinatorial-optimization.md>), [fpga](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/fpga.md>), [performance-optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/performance-optimization.md>)

Tags: [combinatorial-optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/combinatorial-optimization.md>), [hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hardware.md>), [ionq](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ionq.md>), [optimization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/optimization.md>)

## AI overview

IonQ and DESY tested a logarithmic-linear encoding for the flight gate assignment problem on IonQ's Aria quantum processor. The encoding represented instances of up to 36 variables using 18 qubits. The two smallest instances were fully optimized on the QPU; larger instances were optimized on a simulator, with parameters then used for QPU inference. The article describes the work as an early research milestone rather than a near-term airport deployment.

## Source excerpt

Navigating the Growing Complexity of Flight Gate Optimization with IonQ Aria