scholarly journals Sensitive Ants in Solving the Generalized Vehicle Routing Problem

Author(s):  
Camelia-M. Pintea ◽  
Camelia Chira ◽  
Dan Dumitrescu

The idea of sensitivity in ant colony systems has been exploited in hybrid ant-based models with promising results for many combinatorial optimization problems. Heterogeneity is induced in the ant population by endowing individual ants with a certain level of sensitivity to the pheromone trail. The variable pheromone sensitivity within the same population of ants can potentially intensify the search while in the same time inducing diversity for the exploration of the environment. The performance of sensitive ant models is investigated for solving the generalized vehicle routing problem. Numerical results and comparisons are discussed and analysed with a focus on emphasizing any particular aspects and potential benefits related to hybrid ant-based models.

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petrica Pop ◽  
Corina Pop-Sitar

Classical combinatorial optimization problems can be generalized in a natural way by considering a related problem relative to a given partition of the nodes of the graph into node sets. In the literature one can find generalized problems such as: generalized minimum spanning tree, generalized traveling salesman problem, generalized Steiner tree problem, generalized vehicle routing problem, etc. These generalized problems typically belong to the class of NP-complete problems; they are harder than the classical ones, and nowadays are intensively studied due to their interesting properties and applications in the real world. Because of the complexity of finding the optimal or near-optimal solution in case of the generalized combinatorial optimization problems, great effort has been made, by many researchers, to develop efficient ways of their transformation into classical corresponding variants. We present in this paper an efficient way of transforming the generalized vehicle routing problem into the vehicle routing problem, and a new integer programming formulation of the problem.


2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Laporte

The Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) and the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) are two of the most popular problems in the field of combinatorial optimization. Due to the study of these two problems, there has been a significant growth in families of exact and heuristic algorithms being used today. The purpose of this paper is to show how their study has fostered developments of the most popular algorithms now applied to the solution of combinatorial optimization problems. These include exact algorithms, classical heuristics and metaheuristics.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Osaba ◽  
F. Diaz ◽  
R. Carballedo ◽  
E. Onieva ◽  
A. Perallos

Nowadays, the development of new metaheuristics for solving optimization problems is a topic of interest in the scientific community. In the literature, a large number of techniques of this kind can be found. Anyway, there are many recently proposed techniques, such as the artificial bee colony and imperialist competitive algorithm. This paper is focused on one recently published technique, the one called Golden Ball (GB). The GB is a multiple-population metaheuristic based on soccer concepts. Although it was designed to solve combinatorial optimization problems, until now, it has only been tested with two simple routing problems: the traveling salesman problem and the capacitated vehicle routing problem. In this paper, the GB is applied to four different combinatorial optimization problems. Two of them are routing problems, which are more complex than the previously used ones: the asymmetric traveling salesman problem and the vehicle routing problem with backhauls. Additionally, one constraint satisfaction problem (the n-queen problem) and one combinatorial design problem (the one-dimensional bin packing problem) have also been used. The outcomes obtained by GB are compared with the ones got by two different genetic algorithms and two distributed genetic algorithms. Additionally, two statistical tests are conducted to compare these results.


Author(s):  
Petrică Claudiu Pop ◽  
Ioana Zelina ◽  
Vasile Lupşe ◽  
Corina Pop Sitar ◽  
Camelia Chira

The vehicle routing problem (VRP) is one of the most famous combinatorial optimization problems and has been intensively studied due to the many practical applications in the field of distribution, collection, logistics, etc. We study a generalization of the VRP called the generalized vehicle routing problem (GVRP) where given a partition of the nodes of the graph into node sets we want to find the optimal routes from the given depot to the number of predefined clusters which include exactly one node from each cluster. The purpose of this paper is to present heuristic algorithms to solve this problem approximately. We present constructive algorithms and local search algorithms for solving the generalized vehicle routing problem.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lahcene Guezouli ◽  
Samir Abdelhamid

One of the most important combinatorial optimization problems is the transport problem, which has been associated with many variants such as the HVRP and dynamic problem. The authors propose in this study a decision support system which aims to optimize the classical Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem by considering the existence of different vehicle types (with distinct capacities and costs) and multiple available depots, that the authors call the Multi-Depot HVRPTW by respecting a set of criteria including: schedules requests from clients, the heterogeneous capacity of vehicles..., and the authors solve this problem by proposing a new scheme based on a genetic algorithm heuristics that they will specify later. Computational experiments with the benchmark test instances confirm that their approach produces acceptable quality solutions compared with previous results in similar problems in terms of generated solutions and processing time. Experimental results prove that the method of genetic algorithm heuristics is effective in solving the MDHVRPTW problem and hence has a great potential.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lahcene Guezouli ◽  
Mohamed Bensakhria ◽  
Samir Abdelhamid

In this article, the authors propose a decision support system which aims to optimize the classical Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem by considering the existence of multiple available depots and a time window which must not be violated, that they call the Multi-Depot Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window (MDVRPTW), and with respecting a set of criteria including: schedules requests from clients, the capacity of vehicles. The authors solve this problem by proposing a recently published technique based on soccer concepts, called Golden Ball (GB), with different solution representation from the original one, this technique was designed to solve combinatorial optimization problems, and by embedding a clustering algorithm. Computational results have shown that the approach produces acceptable quality solutions compared to the best previous results in similar problem in terms of generated solutions and processing time. Experimental results prove that the proposed Golden Ball algorithm is efficient and effective to solve the MDVRPTW problem.


2012 ◽  
Vol 263-266 ◽  
pp. 1609-1613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Ping Yu ◽  
Ya Ping Li

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) is an important problem occurring in many distribution systems, which is also defined as a family of different versions such as the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) and the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW). The Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a metaheuristic for combinatorial optimization problems. Given the ACO inadequacy, the vehicle routing optimization model is improved and the transfer of the algorithm in corresponding rules and the trajectory updated regulations is reset in this paper, which is called the Improved Ant Colony Optimization (I-ACO). Compared to the calculated results with genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), the correctness of the model and algorithm is verified. Experimental results show that the I-ACO can quickly and effectively obtain the optimal solution of VRFTW.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-56
Author(s):  
Thiago A.S. Masutti ◽  
Leandro Nunes de Castro

Combinatorial optimization problems are broadly studied in the literature. On the one hand, their challenging characteristics, such as the constraints and number of potential solutions, inspires their use to test new solution techniques. On the other hand, the practical application of these problems provides support of daily tasks of people and companies. Vehicle routing problems constitute a well-known class of combinatorial optimization problems, from which the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) is one of the most elementary ones. TSP corresponds to finding the shortest route that visits all cities within a path returning to the start city. Despite its simplicity, the difficulty in finding its exact solution and its direct application in practical problems in multiple areas make it one of the most studied problems in the literature. Algorithms inspired by biological phenomena are being successfully applied to solve optimization tasks, mainly combinatorial optimization problems. Those inspired by the collective behavior of insects produce good results for solving such problems. This article proposes the VRoptBees, a framework inspired by honeybee behavior to tackle vehicle routing problems. The framework provides a flexible and modular tool to easily build solutions to vehicle routing problems. Together with the framework, two examples of implementation are described, one to solve the TSP and the other to solve the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP). Tests were conducted with benchmark instances from the literature, showing competitive results.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevin Aydın

Inventory routing problem can be defined as forming the routes to serve to the retailers from the manufacturer, deciding on the quantity of the shipment to the retailers and deciding on the timing of the replenishments. The difference of inventory routing problems from vehicle routing problems is the consideration of the inventory positions of retailers and supplier, and making the decision accordingly. Inventory routing problems are complex in nature and they can be solved either theoretically or using a heuristics method. Metaheuristics is an emerging class of heuristics that can be applied to combinatorial optimization problems. In this paper, we provide the relationship between vendor-managed inventory and inventory routing problem. The proposed genetic for solving vehicle routing problem is described in detail.


Author(s):  
Gilbert Laporte

The Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) and the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) are two of the most popular problems in the field of combinatorial optimization. Due to the study of these two problems, there has been a significant growth in families of exact and heuristic algorithms being used today. The purpose of this paper is to show how their study has fostered developments of the most popular algorithms now applied to the solution of combinatorial optimization problems. These include exact algorithms, classical heuristics and metaheuristics.


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