What you should know about the vehicle routing problem

In the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), the aim is to design a set of m minimum cost vehicle routes through n customer locations, so that each route starts and ends at a common location and some side constraints are satisfied. Common applications arise in newspaper and food delivery, and in milk collection. This article summarizes the main known results for the classical VRP in which only vehicle capacity constraints are present. The article is structured around three main headings: exact algorithms, classical heuristics, and metaheuristics. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

适应任务的模块化卫星快速构建优化决策方法

如何根据应急航天任务,在满足各种约束的前提下,从型号众多、能力各异的卫星平台及有效载荷中快速决策效费比最佳的卫星构造方案引起了越来越多的关注,这就是适应任务的模块化卫星快速构建优化决策问题。在深入分析该问题特点的基础上,建立优化决策数学模型,提出基于遗传算法的优化决策方法,为处理遗传算法迭代过程中产生的不可行解引入基于罚函数法的约束处理方法。针对罚函数法中惩罚系数难于确定的特点,设计惩罚系数自适应调整的动态罚函数机制。定量化实验及分析结果表明:该方法能有效解决适应任务的模块化卫星快速构建优化决策问题。     

Partial input to output impacts in DEA: Production considerations and resource sharing among business subunits

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a methodology for evaluating the relative efficiencies of peer decision‐making units (DMUs), in a multiple input/output setting. Although it is generally assumed that all outputs are impacted by all inputs, there are many situations where this may not be the case. This article extends the conventional DEA methodology to allow for the measurement of technical efficiency in situations where only partial input‐to‐output impacts exist. The new methodology involves viewing the DMU as a business unit, consisting of a set of mutually exclusive subunits, each of which can be treated in the conventional DEA sense. A further consideration involves the imposition of constraints in the form of assurance regions (AR) on pairs of multipliers. These AR constraints often arise at the level of the subunit, and as a result, there can be multiple and often inconsistent AR constraints on any given variable pair. We present a methodology for resolving such inconsistencies. To demonstrate the overall methodology, we apply it to the problem of evaluating the efficiencies of a set of steel fabrication plants. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2013     

Strategic obfuscation of production capacities

Recent supply‐chain models that study competition among capacity‐constrained producers omit the possibility of producers strategically setting wholesale prices to create uncertainty with regards to (i.e., to obfuscate) their production capacities. To shed some light on this possibility, we study strategic obfuscation in a supply‐chain model comprised of two competing producers and a retailer, where one of the producers faces a privately‐known capacity constraint. We show that capacity obfuscation can strictly increase the obfuscating producer's profit, therefore, presenting a clear incentive for such practices. Moreover, we identify conditions under which both producers' profits increase. In effect, obfuscation enables producers to tacitly collude and charge higher wholesale prices by moderating competition between producers. The retailer, in contrast, suffers a loss in profit, raises retail prices, while overall channel profits decrease. We show that the extent of capacity obfuscation is limited by its cost and by a strategic retailer's incentive to facilitate a deterrence. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 61: 244–267, 2014     

Openshop scheduling under linear resources constraints

Consider n jobs (J₁, …, J_n), m working stations (M₁, …, M_m) and λ linear resources (R₁, …, R_λ). Job J_i consists of m operations (O_i1, …, O_im). Operation O_ij requires P_k(i, j) units of resource R_k to be realized in an M_j. The availability of resource R_k and the ability of the working station M_h to consume resource R_k, vary over time. An operation involving more than one resource consumes them in constant proportions equal to those in which they are required. The order in which operations are realized is immaterial. We seek an allocation of the resources such that the schedule length is minimized. In this paper, polynomial algorithms are developed for several problems, while NP-hardness is demonstrated for several others. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 51–66, 1998     

Client‐contractor bargaining on net present value in project scheduling with limited resources

The client‐contractor bargaining problem addressed here is in the context of a multi‐mode resource constrained project scheduling problem with discounted cash flows, which is formulated as a progress payments model. In this model, the contractor receives payments from the client at predetermined regular time intervals. The last payment is paid at the first predetermined payment point right after project completion. The second payment model considered in this paper is the one with payments at activity completions. The project is represented on an Activity‐on‐Node (AON) project network. Activity durations are assumed to be deterministic. The project duration is bounded from above by a deadline imposed by the client, which constitutes a hard constraint. The bargaining objective is to maximize the bargaining objective function comprised of the objectives of both the client and the contractor. The bargaining objective function is expected to reflect the two‐party nature of the problem environment and seeks a compromise between the client and the contractor. The bargaining power concept is introduced into the problem by the bargaining power weights used in the bargaining objective function. Simulated annealing algorithm and genetic algorithm approaches are proposed as solution procedures. The proposed solution methods are tested with respect to solution quality and solution times. Sensitivity analyses are conducted among different parameters used in the model, namely the profit margin, the discount rate, and the bargaining power weights. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2009     

National restrictions in multinational military operations: A conceptual framework

Recent scholarship in security studies has started to explore the causes and consequences of various forms of national restrictions in multinational military operations (MMOs). This article makes a conceptual contribution to this literature by developing a theoretical framework of national restrictions in MMOs that distinguishes between structural, procedural, and operational restrictions. I argue that these types of restrictions are governed by different causal mechanisms. Structural restrictions are relatively stable over time and effect deployment decisions irrespective of other factors. Procedural restrictions, on the other hand, can constitute veto points against deployment only in combination with distinct political preferences. Finally, operational restrictions directly affect the rules of engagement of troop contributing countries. The article illustrates the three types of restrictions and their interaction with empirical examples from a range of countries and sketches their impact on MMO deployment decisions and mandates.     

基于动态罚函数遗传算法的电磁探测卫星多星规划方法

针对电磁探测卫星的特点,考虑其主要约束条件,建立了多星联合规划数学模型,提出了基于遗传算法的电磁探测卫星多星规划算法.为处理遗传算法迭代过程中产生的不可行解,引入了基于罚函数法的约束处理方法.针对罚函数法中惩罚系数难以确定的特点,设计了惩罚系数自适应调整的动态罚函数机制.根据模拟的数据进行实验及分析,表明该方法能有效解决电磁探测卫星多星规划问题.     

A worst‐case formulation for constrained ranking and selection with input uncertainty

In this research, we consider robust simulation optimization with stochastic constraints. In particular, we focus on the ranking and selection problem in which the computing time is sufficient to evaluate all the designs (solutions) under consideration. Given a fixed simulation budget, we aim at maximizing the probability of correct selection (PCS) for the best feasible design, where the objective and constraint measures are assessed by their worst‐case performances. To simplify the complexity of PCS, we develop an approximated probability measure and derive the asymptotic optimality condition (optimality condition as the simulation budget goes to infinity) of the resulting problem. A sequential selection procedure is then designed within the optimal computing budget allocation framework. The high efficiency of the proposed procedure is tested via a number of numerical examples. In addition, we provide some useful insights into the efficiency of a budget allocation procedure.     

Integrated guidance and control of guided projectile with multiple constraints based on fuzzy adaptive and dynamic surface

Based on fuzzy adaptive and dynamic surface (FADS), an integrated guidance and control (IGC) approach was proposed for large caliber naval gun guided projectile, which was robust to target maneuver, canard dynamic characteristics, and multiple constraints, such as impact angle, limited measurement of line of sight (LOS) angle rate and nonlinear saturation of canard deflection. Initially, a strict feedback cascade model of IGC in longitudinal plane was established, and extended state observer (ESO) was designed to estimate LOS angle rate and uncertain disturbances with unknown boundary inside and outside of system, including aerodynamic parameters perturbation, target maneuver and model errors. Secondly, aiming at zeroing LOS angle tracking error and LOS angle rate in finite time, a nonsingular terminal sliding mode (NTSM) was designed with adaptive exponential reaching law. Furthermore, combining with dynamic surface, which prevented the complex differential of virtual control laws, the fuzzy adaptive systems were designed to approximate observation errors of uncertain disturbances and to reduce chatter of control law. Finally, the adaptive Nussbaum gain function was introduced to compensate nonlinear saturation of canard deflection. The LOS angle tracking error and LOS angle rate were convergent in finite time and whole system states were uniform ultimately bounded, rigorously proven by Lyapunov stability theory. Hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) and digital simulation experiments both showed FADS provided guided projectile with good guidance performance while striking targets with different maneuvering forms.