A hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm for optimization of crew scheduling

Crew scheduling problem is the problem of assigning crew members to the flights so that total cost is minimized while regulatory and legal restrictions are satisfied. The crew scheduling is an NP-hard constrained combinatorial optimization problem and hence, it cannot be exactly solved in a reasonable computational time. This paper presents a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm synchronized with a local search heuristic for solving the crew scheduling problem. Recent studies use genetic algorithm (GA) or ant colony optimization (ACO) to solve large scale crew scheduling problems. Furthermore, two other hybrid algorithms based on GA and ACO algorithms have been developed to solve the problem. Computational results show the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed hybrid PSO algorithm over other algorithms.     

A hybrid instance-intensive workflow scheduling method in private cloud environment

Aiming to solve the problem of instance-intensive workflow scheduling in private cloud environment, this paper first formulates a scheduling optimization model considering the communication time between tasks. The objective of this model is to minimize the execution time of all workflow instances. Then, a hybrid scheduling method based on the batch strategy and an improved genetic algorithm termed fragmentation based genetic algorithm is proposed according to the characters of instance-intensive cloud workflow, where task priority dispatching rules are also taken into account. Simulations are conducted to compare the proposed method with the canonical genetic algorithm and two heuristic algorithms. Our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can considerably enhance the search efficiency of the genetic algorithm and is able to considerably outperform the compared algorithms, in particular when the number of workflow instances is high and the computational resource available for optimization is limited.

     

求解混合流水车间调度问题的一种遗传算法

由于高度的计算复杂性(NP-hard问题),混合流水车间调度问题很难求得最优解,启发式算法和智能优化算法(如遗传算法)求解此类问题的近优解的有效性和实用性已被证实。该文提出了一种基于遗传算法的求解方法,在由染色体转换成可行调度的过程中引入工件插入方法,同时设计了一种新的交叉算子。通过大量的数值计算表明,该算法的优化质量大大优于传统的遗传算法和NEH启发式算法。     

云环境下基于DO-GAPSO的任务调度算法

为了找到合理的云计算任务调度方案,仅从单一方面来优化调度策略已不能满足用户需求,但从多个方面优化调度策略又面临着权重分配问题。针对上述问题,从任务完成时间、任务完成成本、服务质量3个方面考虑,提出一种基于遗传与粒子群算法相融合的动态目标任务调度算法,在算法的适应度评价函数建模中引入线性权重动态分配策略。通过CloudSim平台进行云环境仿真实验,并将此算法与经典的双适应遗传算法(DFGA)、离散粒子群优化算法(DPSO)进行比较。实验结果表明,在相同的设置条件下,该算法在执行效率、寻优能力等方面优于其他两个算法,是一种云计算环境下有效的任务调度算法。     

Design of Fast and Efficient Energy-Aware Gradient-Based Scheduling Algorithms Heterogeneous Embedded Multiprocessor Systems

In this paper, we present two heuristic energy-aware scheduling algorithms (EGMS and EGMSIV) for scheduling task precedence graphs in an embedded multiprocessor system having processing elements with dynamic voltage scaling capabilities. Unlike most energy-aware scheduling algorithms that consider task ordering and voltage scaling separately from task mapping, our algorithms consider them in an integrated way. EGMS uses the concept of energy gradient to select tasks to be mapped onto new processors and voltage levels. EGM-SIV extends EGMS by introducing intra-task voltage scaling using a Linear Programming (LP) formulation to further reduce the energy consumption. Through rigorous simulations, we compare the performance of our proposed algorithms with a few approaches presented in the literature. The results demonstrate that our algorithms are capable of obtaining energy-efficient schedules using less optimization time. On the average, our algorithms produce schedules which consume 10% less energy with more than 47% reduction in optimization time when compared to a few approaches presented in the literature. In particular, our algorithms perform better in generating energy-efficient schedules for larger task graphs. Our results show a reduction of up to 57% in energy consumption for larger task graphs compared to other approaches.     

Three self-adaptive multi-objective evolutionary algorithms for a triple-objective project scheduling problem

Finding a Pareto-optimal frontier is widely favorable among researchers to model existing conflict objectives in an optimization problem. Project scheduling is a well-known problem in which investigating a combination of goals eventuate in a more real situation. Although there are many different types of objectives based on the situation on hand, three basic objectives are the most common in the literature of the project scheduling problem. These objectives are: (i) the minimization of the makespan, (ii) the minimization of the total cost associated with the resources, and (iii) the minimization of the variability in resources usage. In this paper, three genetic-based algorithms are proposed for approximating the Pareto-optimal frontier in project scheduling problem where the above three objectives are simultaneously considered. For the above problem, three self-adaptive genetic algorithms, namely (i) A two-stage multi-population genetic algorithm (MPGA), (ii) a two-phase subpopulation genetic algorithm (TPSPGA), and (iii) a non-dominated ranked genetic algorithm (NRGA) are developed. The algorithms are tested using a set of instances built from benchmark instances existing in the literature. The performances of the algorithms are evaluated using five performance metrics proposed in the literature. Finally according to the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) the self-adaptive NRGA gained the highest preference rank, followed by the self-adaptive TPSPGA and MPGA, respectively.     

Iterative improvement to solve the parcel hub scheduling problem

This paper presents iterative improvement algorithms to solve the parcel hub scheduling problem (PHSP). The PHSP is combinatorial optimization problem that consists of scheduling a set of inbound trailers to a small number of unload docks. At the unload docks, the inbound trailers must be unloaded and the parcel sorted and loaded onto outbound trailers. Because the transfer operation is labor intensive, the transfer of parcels must be done in such a way as to minimize the timespan of the transfer operation. Local search (LS) and simulated annealing (SA) algorithms are developed and evaluated to solve the problem. The performances of the algorithms are compared to the performance of an existing genetic algorithm (GA). The computational results show that the LS and SA algorithms offer solutions that are superior to those offered by the GA.     

An improved particle swarm optimization algorithm for flowshop scheduling problem

The flowshop scheduling problem has been widely studied and many techniques have been applied to it, but few algorithms based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) have been proposed to solve it. In this paper, an improved PSO algorithm (IPSO) based on the “alldifferent” constraint is proposed to solve the flow shop scheduling problem with the objective of minimizing makespan. It combines the particle swarm optimization algorithm with genetic operators together effectively. When a particle is going to stagnate, the mutation operator is used to search its neighborhood. The proposed algorithm is tested on different scale benchmarks and compared with the recently proposed efficient algorithms. The results show that the proposed IPSO algorithm is more effective and better than the other compared algorithms. It can be used to solve large scale flow shop scheduling problem effectively.     

基于混沌遗传算法的网格工作流调度应用

动态网格环境中, 多QoS(服务质量)约束下的工作流调度问题是决定其任务执行成功与否及效率高低的关键。现有的网格工作流调度算法难以满足实际应用中的不同需求, 同时算法欠优化, 难以提供多种策略, 由此提出了一种基于期限与预算两个QoS约束的改进型混沌遗传算法。首先, 为避免算法出现收敛停滞将混沌机制引入遗传算法并对变异概率进行自适应处理。其次, 提出时间和预算的线性结合概念, 将目标函数转换为适应值函数。最终基于工作流调度中的平衡结构和非平衡结构测试了算法的有效性。     

Multiobjective model for solving resource‐leveling problem with discounted cash flows

Nowadays, executers are struggling to improve the economic and scheduling situation of projects. Construction scheduling techniques often produce schedules that cause undesirable resource fluctuations that are inefficient and costly to implement on site. The objective of the resource‐leveling problem is to reduce resource fluctuation related costs (hiring and firing costs) without violating the project deadline. In this article, minimizing the discounted costs of resource fluctuations and minimizing the project makespan are considered in a multiobjective model. The problem is formulated as an integer nonlinear programming model, and since the optimization problem is NP‐hard, we propose multiobjective evolutionary algorithms, namely nondominated sorting genetic algorithm‐II (NSGA‐II), strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm‐II (SPEA‐II), and multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) to solve our suggested model. To evaluate the performance of the algorithms, experimental performance analysis on various instances is presented. Furthermore, in order to study the performance of these algorithms, three criteria are proposed and compared with each other to demonstrate the strengths of each applied algorithm. To validate the results obtained for the suggested model, we compared the results of the first objective function with a well‐tuned genetic algorithm and differential algorithm, and we also compared the makespan results with one of the popular algorithms for the resource constraints project scheduling problem. Finally, we can observe that the NSGA‐II algorithm presents better solutions than the other two algorithms on average.     

A genetic algorithm for multiprocessor scheduling

The problem of multiprocessor scheduling can be stated as finding a schedule for a general task graph to be executed on a multiprocessor system so that the schedule length can be minimized. This scheduling problem is known to be NP-hard, and methods based on heuristic search have been proposed to obtain optimal and suboptimal solutions. Genetic algorithms have recently received much attention as a class of robust stochastic search algorithms for various optimization problems. In this paper, an efficient method based on genetic algorithms is developed to solve the multiprocessor scheduling problem. The representation of the search node is based on the order of the tasks being executed in each individual processor. The genetic operator proposed is based on the precedence relations between the tasks in the task graph. Simulation results comparing the proposed genetic algorithm, the list scheduling algorithm, and the optimal schedule using random task graphs, and a robot inverse dynamics computational task graph are presented     

A tutorial survey of job-shop scheduling problems using genetic algorithms-I. representation

Job-shop scheduling problem (abbreviated to JSP) is one of the well-known hardest combinatorial optimization problems. During the last three decades, the problem has captured the interest of a significant number of researchers and a lot of literature has been published, but no efficient solution algorithm has been found yet for solving it to optimality in polynomial time. This has led to recent interest in using genetic algorithms (GAs) to address it. The purpose of this paper and its companion (Part II: Hybrid Genetic Search Strategies) is to give a tutorial survey of recent works on solving classical JSP using genetic algorithms. In Part I, we devote our attention to the representation schemes proposed for JSP. In Part II, we will discuss various hybrid approaches of genetic algorithms and conventional heuristics. The research works on GA/JSP provide very rich experiences for the constrained combinatorial optimization problems. All of the techniques developed for JSP may be useful for other scheduling problems in modern flexible manufacturing systems and other combinatorial optimization problems.     

离散微粒群优化算法在网格任务调度中的应用

网格任务调度算法是影响网格成功与否的关键技术之一.在研究现有任务调度策略的基础上,指出Min-Min算法的负载不均衡性.借鉴遗传算法中的交叉操作过程,提出了一种新的任务调度算法.该算法对传统的连续型微粒群优化算法进行改进,使其适用于网格任务调度问题的优化处理,实现网格资源的优化分配.仿真研究表明该算法更符合网格调度的复杂环境,能得到较短的任务执行时间和较好的负载均衡性.对比分析表明,离散微粒群优化算法所得结果优于常用的Min-Min调度方案,是一种高效的调度方法.     

多处理机调度问题的粒子群优化算法

建立了多处理机调度问题数学模型,结合遗传算法的思想提出了粒子群算法来解决多处理机调度问题。经过比较测试,4种粒子群算法的效果都比较好,特别是交叉策略A和变异策略A的混合粒子群算法是最好的且简单有效的算法。     

Optimal genetic manipulations in batch bioreactor control

Advances in metabolic engineering have enabled bioprocess optimization at the genetic level. Large-scale systematic models are now available at a genome level for many biological processes. There is, thus, a motivation to develop advanced control algorithms, using these complex models, to identify optimal performance strategies both at the genetic and bioreactor level. In the present paper, the bilevel optimization framework previously developed by the authors is coupled with control algorithms to determine the genetic manipulation strategies in practical bioprocess applications. The bilevel optimization includes a linear programming problem in the inner level and a nonlinear optimization problem in the outer level. Both gradient-based and stochastic methods are used to solve the nonlinear optimization problem. Ethanol production in an anaerobic batch fermentation of Escherichia coli is considered in case studies that demonstrate optimization of ethanol production, batch time, and multi-batch scheduling.     

A realistic variant of bi-objective unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem: NSGA-II and MOACO approaches

The problem investigated in this study involves an unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem with sequence-dependent setup times, different release dates, machine eligibility and precedence constraints. This problem has been inspired from a realistic scheduling problem in the shipyard. The optimization criteria are to simultaneously minimize mean weighted flow time and mean weighted tardiness. To formulate this complicated problem, a new mixed-integer programming model is presented. Considering the NP-complete characteristic of this problem, two famous meta-heuristics including a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and a multi-objective ant colony optimization (MOACO) which is a modified and adaptive version of BicriterionAnt algorithm are developed. Obviously, the precedence constraints increase the complexity of the scheduling problem in strong sense in order to generate feasible solutions, especially in parallel machine environment. Therefore a new corrective algorithm is proposed to obtain the feasibility in all stages of the algorithms. Due to the fact that appropriate design of parameter has a significant effect on the performance of algorithms, we calibrate the parameters of these algorithms by using new approach of Taguchi method. The performances of the proposed meta-heuristics are evaluated by a number of numerical examples. The results indicated that the suggested MOACO statistically outperformed the proposed NSGA-II in solving the test problems. In addition, the application of the proposed algorithms is justified by a real block erection scheduling problem in the shipyard.     

软硬件节能原理深度融合之绿色异构调度算法

虚拟云高性能向高效能计算演进,已是环境保护、人类可持续发展的迫切需求.然而目前,一方面,硬件级物理节能空间需要适度延展;另一方面,以遗传或人工免疫算法为代表的元启发式调度中间件大多存在进化动力不足,以致收敛性和分布性冲突难平衡等瓶颈.事实上,每个候选解（调度方案）都蕴含一定的物理反馈效应,而拟配资源的非线性和异构性,则意味着不同方案间与能效相关的实时动态反馈的巨大差异化.因此,尊重科学规律,巧妙地借力于硬件节能原理,给算法优化动力注入新能量,并进一步增强软件方法的节能主导性,是本文研究方法;继而提出一种着眼于软硬件节能原理深度融合的新的绿色异构调度算法（GHSA_di/Ⅱ）,以多角度、全方位提升元启发式算法之协同进化模拟的内驱力.大量仿真实验结果显示：无论对于数据密集型还是计算密集型实例,GHSA_di/Ⅱ算法较其他3种元启发式异构调度算法,在整体性能、节能降耗以及可扩展性等方面都具明显优势.     

Multiobjective optimization–based fault‐tolerant flight control system design

The loss of measurements used for controller scheduling or envelope protection in modern flight control systems due to sensor failures leads to a challenging fault‐tolerant control law design problem. In this article, an approach to design such a robust fault‐tolerant control system, including full envelope protections using multiobjective optimization techniques, is proposed. The generic controller design and controller verification problems are derived and solved using novel multiobjective hybrid genetic optimization algorithms. These algorithms combine the multiobjective genetic search strategy with local, single‐objective optimization to improve convergence speed. The proposed strategies are applied to the design of a fault‐tolerant flight control system for a modern civil aircraft. The results of an industrial controller verification and validation campaign using an industrial benchmark simulator are reported.     

An effective hybrid optimization strategy for job-shop scheduling problems

Simulated annealing is a naturally serial algorithm, but its behavior can be controlled by the cooling schedule. Genetic algorithm exhibits implicit parallelism and can retain useful redundant information about what is learned from previous searches by its representation in individuals in the population, but GA may lose solutions and substructures due to the disruptive effects of genetic operators and is not easy to regulate GA's convergence. By reasonably combining these two global probabilistic search algorithms, we develop a general, parallel and easily implemented hybrid optimization framework, and apply it to job-shop scheduling problems. Based on effective encoding scheme and some specific optimization operators, some benchmark job-shop scheduling problems are well solved by the hybrid optimization strategy, and the results are competitive with the best literature results. Besides the effectiveness and robustness of the hybrid strategy, the combination of different search mechanisms and structures can relax the parameter-dependence of GA and SA.Scope and purposeJob-shop scheduling problem (JSP) is one of the most well-known machine scheduling problems and one of the strongly NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems. Developing effective search methods is always an important and valuable work. The scope and purpose of this paper is to present a parallel and easily implemented hybrid optimization framework, which reasonably combines genetic algorithm with simulated annealing. Based on effective encoding scheme and some specific optimization operators, the job-shop scheduling problems are well solved by the hybrid optimization strategy.     

时序约束下的调度算法

在通讯ASIC设计中,时序行为是设计者考虑的主要目标。高层次综合领域中时序约束下的调度算法对ASIC设计的优化结果起着重要作用。论文在时序约束下的调度算法在算子可调度的前提下通过修正的ASAP与ALAP算法缩小设计的搜索空间,最后通过遗传算法进行优化,得到最优调度方案。根据文中算法建立了一个时序约束下的综合系统,并进行了实验,说明了算法的有效性。