English

orb-QFL: Orbital Quantum Federated Learning

Distributed, Parallel, and Cluster Computing 2025-09-23 v1 Machine Learning

Abstract

Recent breakthroughs in quantum computing present transformative opportunities for advancing Federated Learning (FL), particularly in non-terrestrial environments characterized by stringent communication and coordination constraints. In this study, we propose orbital QFL, termed orb-QFL, a novel quantum-assisted Federated Learning framework tailored for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. Distinct from conventional FL paradigms, termed orb-QFL operates without centralized servers or global aggregation mechanisms (e.g., FedAvg), instead leveraging quantum entanglement and local quantum processing to facilitate decentralized, inter-satellite collaboration. This design inherently addresses the challenges of orbital dynamics, such as intermittent connectivity, high propagation delays, and coverage variability. The framework enables continuous model refinement through direct quantum-based synchronization between neighboring satellites, thereby enhancing resilience and preserving data locality. To validate our approach, we integrate the Qiskit quantum machine learning toolkit with Poliastro-based orbital simulations and conduct experiments using Statlog dataset.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2509.16505,
  title  = {orb-QFL: Orbital Quantum Federated Learning},
  author = {Dev Gurung and Shiva Raj Pokhrel},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.16505},
  year   = {2025}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T05:46:51.986Z