The Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme (NQCP) at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, has spun out Pelagic Systems to commercialize real-time control, calibration, and characterization software for quantum processors. Developed and validated on superconducting quantum hardware at NQCP and supported by non-dilutive grant capital from Innovation Fund Denmark via its InnoExplorer and Grand Solutions programs, the platform addresses runtime parameter instabilities—such as qubit frequency drift, fluctuating coherence lifetimes, and readout degradation—that constrain multi-qubit system performance.
Real-Time FPGA Control Loops and Quantum Characterization Architecture
Traditional quantum processor characterization relies on host-mediated feedback loops: measurement data generated at the quantum processing unit (QPU) travels to a host CPU for analysis, which then issues updated pulse configurations back to the instrument rack, incurring latency penalties typically on the order of 250 ms for standard sweeps. Pelagic Systems shifts parameter estimation and feedback decision-making directly into the real-time execution loop by running routines locally on FPGA controllers. On operational superconducting hardware, this on-controller estimation pipeline measures relaxation times (T1) and executes recalibration sweeps in 9.8 ms, enabling adaptive multi-qubit operations and granular tracking of fast noise dynamics. The broader platform combines this low-latency control with an extensible experimental runtime and automated Quantum Characterization, Verification, and Validation (QCVV) frameworks designed to interface with heterogeneous hardware platforms.
Commercial Positioning and Scaling Realities in Quantum Control Software
The launch of Pelagic Systems targets a growing bottleneck as quantum hardware transitions from isolated academic physics experiments to complex multi-qubit architectures that require continuous, automated tuning. While on-FPGA calibration mitigates system downtime on superconducting testbeds, expanding into third-party industrial labs introduces distinct execution challenges. The company must demonstrate that its software stack can generalize beyond the specific control electronics and superconducting layouts used at NQCP, establishing low-latency integration across diverse commercial FPGA platforms and alternative qubit modalities—such as neutral-atom arrays and trapped-ion systems—which operate under disparate optical and radio-frequency calibration constraints.
Company details and operational benchmarks are available via Pelagic Systems and the official Pelagic Launch Announcement here.
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