The Impact of Automated Algorithm Configuration on the Scaling Behaviour of State-of-the-Art Inexact TSP Solvers

2016 ◽  
pp. 157-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongxu Mu ◽  
Holger H. Hoos ◽  
Thomas Stützle
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Scaling Behaviour ◽  
Automated Algorithm ◽  
Algorithm Configuration ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Automated Algorithm Selection: Survey and Perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Kerschke ◽  
Holger H. Hoos ◽  
Frank Neumann ◽  
Heike Trautmann
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Combinatorial Problems ◽  
The State ◽  
Problem Instance ◽  
Ai Planning ◽  
Algorithm Selection ◽  
Automated Algorithm ◽  
Continuous Problems ◽  
Algorithm Configuration ◽  
The One

It has long been observed that for practically any computational problem that has been intensely studied, different instances are best solved using different algorithms. This is particularly pronounced for computationally hard problems, where in most cases, no single algorithm defines the state of the art; instead, there is a set of algorithms with complementary strengths. This performance complementarity can be exploited in various ways, one of which is based on the idea of selecting, from a set of given algorithms, for each problem instance to be solved the one expected to perform best. The task of automatically selecting an algorithm from a given set is known as the per-instance algorithm selection problem and has been intensely studied over the past 15 years, leading to major improvements in the state of the art in solving a growing number of discrete combinatorial problems, including propositional satisfiability and AI planning. Per-instance algorithm selection also shows much promise for boosting performance in solving continuous and mixed discrete/continuous optimisation problems. This survey provides an overview of research in automated algorithm selection, ranging from early and seminal works to recent and promising application areas. Different from earlier work, it covers applications to discrete and continuous problems, and discusses algorithm selection in context with conceptually related approaches, such as algorithm configuration, scheduling, or portfolio selection. Since informative and cheaply computable problem instance features provide the basis for effective per-instance algorithm selection systems, we also provide an overview of such features for discrete and continuous problems. Finally, we provide perspectives on future work in the area and discuss a number of open research challenges.

scholarly journals AutoFolio: An Automatically Configured Algorithm Selector

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 745-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Lindauer ◽  
Holger H. Hoos ◽  
Frank Hutter ◽  
Torsten Schaub
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Problem Instance ◽  
Algorithm Selection ◽  
The Core ◽  
Automated Algorithm ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Algorithm Configuration ◽  
Optimal Values ◽  
The One

Algorithm selection (AS) techniques -- which involve choosing from a set of algorithms the one expected to solve a given problem instance most efficiently -- have substantially improved the state of the art in solving many prominent AI problems, such as SAT, CSP, ASP, MAXSAT and QBF. Although several AS procedures have been introduced, not too surprisingly, none of them dominates all others across all AS scenarios. Furthermore, these procedures have parameters whose optimal values vary across AS scenarios. This holds specifically for the machine learning techniques that form the core of current AS procedures, and for their hyperparameters. Therefore, to successfully apply AS to new problems, algorithms and benchmark sets, two questions need to be answered: (i) how to select an AS approach and (ii) how to set its parameters effectively. We address both of these problems simultaneously by using automated algorithm configuration. Specifically, we demonstrate that we can automatically configure claspfolio 2, which implements a large variety of different AS approaches and their respective parameters in a single, highly-parameterized algorithm framework. Our approach, dubbed AutoFolio, allows researchers and practitioners across a broad range of applications to exploit the combined power of many different AS methods. We demonstrate AutoFolio can significantly improve the performance of claspfolio 2 on 8 out of the 13 scenarios from the Algorithm Selection Library, leads to new state-of-the-art algorithm selectors for 7 of these scenarios, and matches state-of-the-art performance (statistically) on all other scenarios. Compared to the best single algorithm for each AS scenario, AutoFolio achieves average speedup factors between 1.3 and 15.4.

Chapter 12. Automated Configuration and Selection of SAT Solvers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holger H. Hoos ◽  
Frank Hutter ◽  
Kevin Leyton-Brown
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Sat Solving ◽  
Sat Solvers ◽  
Effective Application ◽  
Automated Algorithm ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Algorithm Configuration ◽  
Algorithmic Approaches ◽  
Selection Of

This chapter provides an introduction to the automated configuration and selection of SAT algorithms and gives an overview of the most prominent approaches. Since the early 2000s, these so-called meta-algorithmic approaches have played a major role in advancing the state of the art in SAT solving, giving rise to new ways of using and evaluating SAT solvers. At the same time, SAT has proven to be particularly fertile ground for research and development in the area of automated configuration and selection, and methods developed there have meanwhile achieved impact far beyond SAT, across a broad range of computationally challenging problems. Conceptually more complex approaches that go beyond “pure” algorithm configuration and selection are also discussed, along with some open challenges related to meta-algorithmic approaches, such as automated algorithm configuration and selection, to the tools based on these approaches, and to their effective application.

scholarly journals Boosting the Performance of SLS and CDCL Solvers by Preprocessor Tuning

10.29007/28ww ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Balint ◽  
Norbert Manthey
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Performance Gain ◽  
Sat Solvers ◽  
Automated Algorithm ◽  
Algorithm Configuration ◽  
Art Performance ◽  
Preprocessing Technique

Preprocessing techniques are crucial for SAT solvers when it comes to reaching state-of-the-art performance as it was shown by the results of the last SAT Competitions. Theusefulness of a preprocessing technique depends highly on its own parameters, on the in-stances on which it is applied and on the used solver. In this paper we first give an extendedanalysis of the performance gain reached by using different preprocessing techniques in-dividually in combination with CDCL solvers on application instances and SLS solverson crafted instances. Further, we provide an analysis of combinations of preprocessingtechniques by means of automated algorithm configuration, where we search for optimalpreprocessor configurations for different scenarios. Our results show that the performanceof CDCL and especially of SLS solvers can be further improved when using appropriatepreprocessor configurations. The solvers augmented with the best found preprocessingconfigurations outperform the original solvers on the instances from the SAT Challenge2012, achieving new state-of-the-art results.

scholarly journals Pitfalls and Best Practices in Algorithm Configuration

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 861-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Eggensperger ◽  
Marius Lindauer ◽  
Frank Hutter
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
High Performance ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Parameter Tuning ◽  
Propositional Satisfiability ◽  
Ai Planning ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Automated Algorithm ◽  
Algorithm Configuration ◽  
Satisfiability Solving

Good parameter settings are crucial to achieve high performance in many areas of artificial intelligence (AI), such as propositional satisfiability solving, AI planning, scheduling, and machine learning (in particular deep learning). Automated algorithm configuration methods have recently received much attention in the AI community since they replace tedious, irreproducible and error-prone manual parameter tuning and can lead to new state-of-the-art performance. However, practical applications of algorithm configuration are prone to several (often subtle) pitfalls in the experimental design that can render the procedure ineffective. We identify several common issues and propose best practices for avoiding them. As one possibility for automatically handling as many of these as possible, we also propose a tool called GenericWrapper4AC.

scholarly journals Greybox Algorithm Configuration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Anastacio
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Automated Algorithm ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Algorithm Configuration ◽  
Improve Algorithm ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Problem Instances ◽  
The Right ◽  
Parameter Values ◽  
Configuration Problem

The performance of state-of-the-art algorithms is highly dependent on their parameter values, and choosing the right configuration can make the difference between solving a problem in a few minutes or hours. Automated algorithm configurators have shown their efficiency on a wide range of applications. However, they still encounter limitations when confronted to a large number of parameters to tune or long algorithm running time. We believe that there is untapped knowledge that can be gathered from the elements of the configuration problem, such as the default value in the configuration space, the source code of the algorithm, and the distribution of the problem instances at hand. We aim at utilising this knowledge to improve algorithm configurators.

scholarly journals Comparison of Industrial Quenching Oils

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 250
Author(s):  
Jiří Hájek ◽  
Zaneta Dlouha ◽  
Vojtěch Průcha
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Cooling Capacity ◽  
Steel Grade ◽  
Cooling Curves ◽  
Cooling Process ◽  
Industrial Practice ◽  
Product Size ◽  
Cct Curve ◽  
Hardening Power ◽  
The Impact

This article is a response to the state of the art in monitoring the cooling capacity of quenching oils in industrial practice. Very often, a hardening shop requires a report with data on the cooling process for a particular quenching oil. However, the interpretation of the data can be rather difficult. The main goal of our work was to compare various criteria used for evaluating quenching oils. Those of which prove essential for operation in tempering plants would then be introduced into practice. Furthermore, the article describes monitoring the changes in the properties of a quenching oil used in a hardening shop, the effects of quenching oil temperature on its cooling capacity and the impact of the water content on certain cooling parameters of selected oils. Cooling curves were measured (including cooling rates and the time to reach relevant temperatures) according to ISO 9950. The hardening power of the oil and the area below the cooling rate curve as a function of temperature (amount of heat removed in the nose region of the Continuous cooling transformation - CCT curve) were calculated. V-values based on the work of Tamura, reflecting the steel type and its CCT curve, were calculated as well. All the data were compared against the hardness and microstructure on a section through a cylinder made of EN C35 steel cooled in the particular oil. Based on the results, criteria are recommended for assessing the suitability of a quenching oil for a specific steel grade and product size. The quenching oils used in the experiment were Houghto Quench C120, Paramo TK 22, Paramo TK 46, CS Noro MO 46 and Durixol W72.

scholarly journals Smoothing additive manufactured parts using ns-pulsed laser radiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Kuisat ◽  
Fernando Lasagni ◽  
Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Pulsed Laser ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Laser Source ◽  
Pulsed Laser Radiation ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIt is well known that the surface topography of a part can affect its mechanical performance, which is typical in additive manufacturing. In this context, we report about the surface modification of additive manufactured components made of Titanium 64 (Ti64) and Scalmalloy®, using a pulsed laser, with the aim of reducing their surface roughness. In our experiments, a nanosecond-pulsed infrared laser source with variable pulse durations between 8 and 200 ns was applied. The impact of varying a large number of parameters on the surface quality of the smoothed areas was investigated. The results demonstrated a reduction of surface roughness Sa by more than 80% for Titanium 64 and by 65% for Scalmalloy® samples. This allows to extend the applicability of additive manufactured components beyond the current state of the art and break new ground for the application in various industrial applications such as in aerospace.

scholarly journals Cash Flow Bullwhip—Literature Review and Research Perspectives

Logistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Hicham Lamzaouek ◽  
Hicham Drissi ◽  
Naima El Haoud
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Cash Flow ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Bullwhip Effect ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Financial Perspective ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Exhaustive List

The bullwhip effect is a pervasive phenomenon in all supply chains causing excessive inventory, delivery delays, deterioration of customer service, and high costs. Some researchers have studied this phenomenon from a financial perspective by shedding light on the phenomenon of cash flow bullwhip (CFB). The objective of this article is to provide the state of the art in relation to research work on CFB. Our ambition is not to make an exhaustive list, but to synthesize the main contributions, to enable us to identify other interesting research perspectives. In this regard, certain lines of research remain insufficiently explored, such as the role that supply chain digitization could play in controlling CFB, the impact of CFB on the profitability of companies, or the impacts of the omnichannel commerce on CFB.

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