Techniques for establishing ergodic and recurrence properties of continuous-valued markov chains

We present techniques for classifying Markov chains with a continuous state space as either ergodic or recurrent. These methods are analogous to those of Foster for countable space chains. The theory is presented in the first half of the paper, while the second half consists of examples illustrating these techniques. The technique for proving ergodicity involves, in practice, three steps: showing that the chain is irreducible in a suitable sense; verifying that the mean hitting times on certain (usually bounded) sets are bounded, by using a “mean drift” criterion analogous to that of Foster; and finally, checking that the chain is such that bounded mean hitting times for these sets does actually imply ergodicity. The examples comprise a number of known and new results: using our techniques we investigate random walks, queues with waiting-time-dependent service times, dams with general and random-release rules, the s-S inventory model, and feedback models.     

The distribution of recoverable inventory items from a repair center when the number of consumption centers is large

This paper considers real-time decision rules for an inventory system where items are repaired than “used up.” The problem is to decide which user in the system has the greatest need for the newly available inventory items coming out of repair. The main result shows that two published approahes, the Transportation Time Look Ahead policy and METRIC, are optimal when the number of users gets large. A useful byproduct of the proof is a lower bound on the average backorder rate for a repair-inventory system of any size.     

A decomposition algorithm applied to planning the interdiction of stochastic networks

We describe the application of a decomposition based solution method to a class of network interdiction problems. The problem of maximizing the probability of sufficient disruption of the flow of information or goods in a network whose characteristics are not certain is shown to be solved effectively by applying a scenario decomposition method developed by Riis and Schultz [Comput Optim Appl 24 (2003), 267–287]. Computational results demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm and design decisions that result in speed improvements. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.     

改进型Voronoi图和动态权值A*算法的无人机航迹规划

针对实际作战环境中的不同威胁等级和不同威胁实体的威胁源,提出了改进型的Voronoi图,并建立了基于改进型Voronoi图的航迹规划空间;基于A*算法的估价函数在不同阶段对指标的敏感度不同,在传统的启发式A*搜索算法基础上提出了动态权值A*搜索算法,提高了航迹搜索的效率,实现了航迹搜索过程快速性和准确性的结合。最后通过Matlab仿真计算出由动态权值A*算法得到的最优航迹,并进行了航迹的平滑处理,仿真表明了该方法的可行性。     

基于动力学与运动学的四轮全向移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制

建立了四轮全向移动机器人的运动学模型和动力学模型,并分析了四轮全向移动机器人执行器的机械特性。在此基础上,利用反馈控制设计了四轮全向移动机器人的运动学控制器,利用逆动力学补偿控制设计了四轮全向移动机器人的动力学控制器,实现了基于动力学与运动学的四轮全向移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制系统设计。最后,利用Matlab/Simulink完成了基于动力学与运动学的四轮全向移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制仿真实验,实验结果验证了该轨迹跟踪控制方法的有效性。     

Forecasting Civil Conflict with Zero-Inflated Count Models

Advances in the study of civil war have led to the proliferation of event count data, and to a corresponding increase in the use of (zero-inflated) count models for the quantitative analysis of civil conflict events. Our ability to effectively use these techniques is met with two current limitations. First, researchers do not yet have a definitive answer as to whether zero-inflated count models are a verifiably better approach to civil conflict modeling than are ‘less assuming’ approaches such as negative binomial count models. Second, the accurate analysis of conflict-event counts with count models – zero-inflated or otherwise – is severely limited by the absence of an effective framework for the evaluation of predictive accuracy, which is an empirical approach that is of increasing importance to conflict modelers. This article rectifies both of these deficiencies. Specifically, this study presents count forecasting techniques for the evaluation and comparison of count models' predictive accuracies. Using these techniques alongside out-of-sample forecasts, it then definitively verifies – for the first time – that zero-inflated count models are superior to comparable non-inflated models for the study of intrastate conflict events.     

Design of follow‐up experiments for improving model discrimination and parameter estimation

One goal of experimentation is to identify which design parameters most significantly influence the mean performance of a system. Another goal is to obtain good parameter estimates for a response model that quantifies how the mean performance depends on influential parameters. Most experimental design techniques focus on one goal at a time. This paper proposes a new entropy‐based design criterion for follow‐up experiments that jointly identifies the important parameters and reduces the variance of parameter estimates. We simplify computations for the normal linear model by identifying an approximation that leads to a closed form solution. The criterion is applied to an example from the experimental design literature, to a known model and to a critical care facility simulation experiment. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004