Hybridized ant colony algorithm for the Multi Compartment Vehicle Routing Problem

Multi Compartment Vehicle Routing Problem is an extension of the classical Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem where different products are transported together in one vehicle with multiple compartments. Products are stored in different compartments because they cannot be mixed together due to differences in their individual characteristics. The problem is encountered in many industries such as delivery of food and grocery, garbage collection, marine vessels, etc. We propose a hybridized algorithm which combines local search with an existent ant colony algorithm to solve the problem. Computational experiments are performed on new generated benchmark problem instances. An existing ant colony algorithm and the proposed hybridized ant colony algorithm are compared. It was found that the proposed ant colony algorithm gives better results as compared to the existing ant colony algorithm.     

变邻域量子烟花算法求解CVRP

针对带容量约束的车辆路径问题，提出一种融合量子进化算法和变邻域优化策略的变邻域量子烟花算法。该算法采用等分随机键与最大位置法结合的实数编码方式，通过量子旋转门和非门变异提高算法全局搜索能力，同时运用结合2-Opt的变邻域优化策略加强局部搜索能力。选取17个基准算例进行参数实验和对比实验，实验结果表明，相对于对比算法，所提出的算法具有较好的寻优能力和收敛速度。     

Automated network management and configuration using Probabilistic Trans-Algorithmic Search

Online configuration of large-scale systems such as networks requires parameter optimization within a limited amount of time, especially when configuration is needed as a response to recover from a failure in the system. To quickly configure such systems in an online manner, we propose a Probabilistic Trans-Algorithmic Search (PTAS) framework which leverages multiple optimization search algorithms in an iterative manner. PTAS applies a search algorithm to determine how to best distribute available experiment budget among multiple optimization search algorithms. It allocates an experiment budget to each available search algorithm and observes its performance on the system-at-hand. PTAS then probabilistically reallocates the experiment budget for the next round proportional to each algorithm’s performance relative to the rest of the algorithms. This “roulette wheel” approach probabilistically favors the more successful algorithm in the next round. Following each round, the PTAS framework “transfers” the best result(s) among the individual algorithms, making our framework a trans-algorithmic one. PTAS thus aims to systematize how to “search for the best search” and hybridize a set of search algorithms to attain a better search. We use three individual search algorithms, i.e., Recursive Random Search (RRS) (Ye and Kalyanaraman, 2004), Simulated Annealing (SA) (Laarhoven and Aarts, 1987), and Genetic Algorithm (GA) (Goldberg, 1989), and compare PTAS against the performance of RRS, GA, and SA. We show the performance of PTAS on well-known benchmark objective functions including scenarios where the objective function changes in the middle of the optimization process. To illustrate applicability of our framework to automated network management, we apply PTAS on the problem of optimizing link weights of an intra-domain routing protocol on three different topologies obtained from the Rocketfuel dataset. We also apply PTAS on the problem of optimizing aggregate throughput of a wireless ad hoc network by tuning datarates of traffic sources. Our experiments show that PTAS successfully picks the best performing algorithm, RRS or GA, and allocates the time wisely. Further, our results show that PTAS’ performance is not transient and steadily improves as more time is available for search.     

基于ERPMT改进启发式方法的WSN寿命最大化算法

针对传感器节点的电池容量限制导致无线传感网络寿命低的问题,基于容量最大化(CMAX)、线上最大化寿命(OML)两种启发式方法以及高效路由能量管理技术(ERPMT),提出了基于ERPMT改进启发式方法的无线传感网络寿命最大化算法。首先,通过启发式方法初始化每个传感器节点,将节点能量划分为传感器节点起源数据和其它节点数据延迟;然后利用加入的一种优先度量延迟一跳节点的能量消耗;最后,根据路径平均能量为每个路由分配一个优先级,并通过ERPMT实现最终的无线传感网络优化。针对不同分布类型网络寿命的实验验证了本文算法的有效性及可靠性,实验结果表明,相比较为先进的启发式方法CMAX及OML,本文算法明显增大了无线传感网络的覆盖范围,并且大大地延长了网络的寿命。     

考虑布线资源松弛的X结构Steiner最小树算法

为了进一步考虑X结构,并充分利用障碍内可用布线资源,文中提出考虑布线资源松弛的X结构Steiner最小树算法.为了能够求解离散问题,在粒子的更新操作中引入交叉算子和变异算子.通过构建查找表,为整个算法流程提供快速的信息查询.提出角点选取策略,通过引入一些障碍角点,使粒子满足约束.最后构建精炼策略,进一步提高最终布线树的质量.实验表明,文中算法充分利用障碍内可用布线资源,有效缩短总布线长度,取得较佳的总布线长度.     

A tabu search algorithm for the multi-period inspector scheduling problem

This paper introduces a multi-period inspector scheduling problem (MPISP), which is a new variant of the multi-trip vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW). In the MPISP, each inspector is scheduled to perform a route in a given multi-period planning horizon. At the end of each period, each inspector is not required to return to the depot but has to stay at one of the vertices for recuperation. If the remaining time of the current period is insufficient for an inspector to travel from his/her current vertex A to a certain vertex B, he/she can choose either waiting at vertex A until the start of the next period or traveling to a vertex C that is closer to vertex B. Therefore, the shortest transit time between any vertex pair is affected by the length of the period and the departure time. We first describe an approach of computing the shortest transit time between any pair of vertices with an arbitrary departure time. To solve the MPISP, we then propose several local search operators adapted from classical operators for the VRPTW and integrate them into a tabu search framework. In addition, we present a constrained knapsack model that is able to produce an upper bound for the problem. Finally, we evaluate the effectiveness of our algorithm with extensive experiments based on a set of test instances. Our computational results indicate that our approach generates high-quality solutions.     

Enhanced exact solution methods for the Team Orienteering Problem

The Team Orienteering Problem (TOP) is one of the most investigated problems in the family of vehicle routing problems with profits. In this paper, we propose a Branch-and-Price approach to find proven optimal solutions to TOP. The pricing sub-problem is solved by a bounded bidirectional dynamic programming algorithm with decremental state space relaxation featuring a two-phase dominance rule relaxation. The new method is able to close 17 previously unsolved benchmark instances. In addition, we propose a Branch-and-Cut-and-Price approach using subset-row inequalities and show the effectiveness of these cuts in solving TOP.     

Constructive heuristics for the Mixed Capacity Arc Routing Problem under Time Restrictions with Intermediate Facilities

The Mixed Capacity Arc Routing Problem under Time Restrictions with Intermediate Facilities (MCARPTIF) is an extension of the Arc Routing Problem under Capacity and Length Restrictions with Intermediate Facilities (CLARPIF) with application in municipal waste collection. This paper evaluates four constructive heuristics capable of computing feasible solutions for the MCARPTIF with a primary objective to either minimise total cost or to minimise the fleet size. The heuristics were adapted from Path-Scanning and Improved-Merge for the Mixed Capacitated Arc Routing Problem, and compared against two Route-First-Cluster-Second heuristics for the MCARPTIF. The objective was to identify the best performing heuristic for application purposes. In practice, the CARP is often solved for real-time or near real-time decision support. Computational time required by the heuristics was thus also evaluated. Identifying the best heuristic proved difficult due to a lack of realistic MCARPTIF benchmark sets, with the two CLARPIF sets predominantly solved in the literature not resembling actual waste collection instances. Route-First-Cluster-Second heuristics, linked with a new vehicle reduction heuristic performed the worst on the two CLARPIF sets, yet performed the best on new waste collection sets taken from the literature and introduced in this paper. Improved-Merge performed the best on two existing CLARPIF sets and on a realistic set with Intermediate-Facilities incident with the vehicle depot, but struggled on all other sets and in minimising fleet size. Path-Scanning was the most robust heuristic, performing reasonably well on all benchmark sets and both objectives. Results further show that due to the high computational time of one of the Route-First-Cluster-Second heuristics, which was only exposed on realistically sized sets, the slightly worse version is the best alternative when real-time support is required for waste collection applications.     

A bi-objective approach for scheduling ground-handling vehicles in airports

In the present paper, we propose a new approach for scheduling ground-handling vehicles, tackling the problem with a global perspective. Preparing an aircraft for its next flight requires a set of interrelated services involving different types of vehicles. Planning decisions concerning each resource affect the scheduling of the other activities and the performance of the other resources. Considering the different operations and vehicles instead of scheduling each resource in isolation allows integrating decisions and contributing to the optimization of the overall ground-handling process. This goal is defined through two objectives: (i) minimizing the waiting time before an operation starts and the total reduction of corresponding time windows and (ii) minimizing the total completion time of the turnarounds. We combine different technologies and techniques to solve the problem efficiently. A new method to address this bi-objective optimization problem is also proposed. The approach has been tested using real data from two Spanish airports, thereby obtaining different solutions that represent a trade-off between both objectives. Experimental results permit inferring interesting criteria on how to optimize each resource, considering the effect on other operations. This outcome leads to more robust global solutions and to savings in resources utilization.