Multi-UAVs task assignment method considering expected destruction probability of target

To solve the combat task assignment of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (RUAV)/unmanned combat aerial vehicle(UCAV), this paper proposed an efficient task assignment method that takes into account the expected destruction probability of target. This method improves the utility function and constraint of the model that based on the goal of destroying the total sum of the target value. The adjustment factor is added to the model to achieve a balanced distribution of RUAVs/UCAVs resources; the expected destruction probability of target is introduced as a constraint to prevent the excessive distribution of RUAVs/UCAVs resources. Subsequently, a greedy algorithm based on maximizing marginal-return is designed to solve the proposed model. The simulation results show that the improved algorithm not only meets the combat effectiveness but also improves the economic performance on the basis of real-time task allocation.

Using efficiency frontier to inform operational decision-making

In this study, we introduce Efficiency Frontier, an economic assessment framework for business operations. The proposed framework emphasizes efficiency and sustainability. It aims to help organizations translate a complex metric system into a value index, conduct performance evaluation, and determine efficient resource planning strategies. Unlike the traditional methods that majorly focus on the achievement of performance targets, the proposed framework also accounts for the amount of resource that is invested in the achievement, which encourages managers to implement sustainable strategies that aim for long-term success. To validate the new framework, we systematically study the case of the City of Chicago’s 311 contact center with a base case analysis and a sensitivity analysis. In the base case, an Efficiency Frontier architected by a set of efficient solutions from 2013 to 2016 is used to identify outperforming scenarios given resource constraints. In the sensitivity analysis, we demonstrate the application of Efficiency Frontier in determining optimal resource planning strategies in conservative, moderate, and aggressive business investment scenarios. The base case Efficiency Frontier reveals that the marginal return on investment in improving the performance may diminish as investment increases. The sensitivity study suggests that optimal resource planning strategies should be adjusted according to value propositions. This work builds a framework for business leaders to economically assess their operational decision-making. Article highlights Efficient strategies can be identified by exploring the maximum value increase per unit of resource given cost scenarios The fund of a strategy should be reduced when the marginal return of the strategy begins to diminish. The framework’s ability to suggest cost-saving strategies is especially informative in resource-limited settings.

Aguas residuales de industria láctea como alternativa sostenible para aumentar la productividad del maíz en Perú

Corn (Zea Mays) is the most cultivated cereal in the world and this is a staple food for human beings that is why in recent years they are looking for alternatives to improve their production. On the other hand, whey is a residual effluent from the dairy industry generally eliminated in sewage, however, due to its high organic load it can be used to produce different biofertilizers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on the production of the corn crop when applying a biofertilizer obtained by anaerobic fermentation of whey and bovine manure. The study was conducted between October 2018 and February 2019, in the experimental area of the Calaspam association, located in Majes, Arequipa-Peru. A complete randomized block experimental design was used in a 2×4 factorial scheme composed by three biofertilizer treatments (6.9 and 12 LBF/water) and a control treatment with three replicates applied with an average flow rate of 1.5 Lha-1. Morphological, post-harvest and economic indicators were determined, as well as the chlorophyll content. Results indicate that biofertilizer treatments improved the indicators studied. The third treatment shows higher values in all the indicators compared to the other treatments, being the values of yield (79,29±7,33 103 kgha-1) and marginal return rate (85,73%) the most outstanding. It is concluded that the biofertilizer obtained from bovine manure and whey has a positive effect on corn production and its application is economically viable.

Planning games.

This chapter tells the story of Tom. Tom has noted the large range in profitability farmers achieve relative to each other. It was clear to Tom that some of this was due to farmers all having different objectives, but also that there was more than likely a wide range of decision skills. It is pointed out that experience is an important factor in excellent managerial ability, provided the lessons it gives are fully understood and comprehended. Tom and his colleagues make it clear intuition is an important and critical resource farmer-decision makers possess. All farmers and consultants should understand the rudiments of production economics as they set out the decision rules to follow in achieving objectives with particular attention on maximizing profit. But the principles apply equally to all objectives. As noted, one of the key rules is to keep adding resources, such as fertilizer, until the point of marginal return (MR) equals marginal cost (MC).

The Economic Significance of Work Experience for Elderly Employment in Thailand

A rapid demographic change to the aging and aged population in Thailand has led to a reduction in the labor force, and an increasing concern about the economic potential of the country. Therefore, a study of older adults who are capable of working, and an analysis of the significance of their work experience is vital for public policy. An analysis of the data from the 2018 Labor Force Survey in Thailand demonstrates that older adults in the age groups of 60-64 and 65-69 who are capable of working constitute 24.2% and 21.2% of the population, respectively. Among these older adults are retirees, who have the highest potential because they are well educated and highly experienced. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to correct the selectivity bias in the analysis of the return on work experience. The results indicate that the marginal return on work experience is 2.75% for high-skilled occupations. There are similar results for semi-skilled and low-skilled occupations (1.99% and 1.73%), however, diminishes more rapidly in the latter than in the former. These findings indicate that the value of experience increases with occupations that require skills, and diminishes significantly in jobs that mainly require physical strength (i.e., low-skilled occupations). This study suggests that older adults with the potential to do so should be encouraged to remain active in the labor market, and that labor demand is enhanced by emphasizing the value of their experience.

Efficient Decision Approaches for Asset-Based Dynamic Weapon Target Assignment by a Receding Horizon and Marginal Return Heuristic

The weapon-target assignment problem is a crucial decision support in a Command and Control system. As a typical operational scenario, the major asset-based dynamic weapon target assignment (A-DWTA) models and solving algorithms are challenging to reflect the actual requirement of decision maker. Deriving from the “shoot–look–shoot” principle, an “observe–orient–decide–act” loop model for A-DWTA (OODA/A-DWTA) is established. Focus on the decide phase of the OODA/A-DWTA loop, a novel A-DWTA model, which is based on the receding horizon decomposition strategy (A-DWTA/RH), is established. To solve the A-DWTA/RH efficiently, a heuristic algorithm based on statistical marginal return (HA-SMR) is designed, which proposes a reverse hierarchical idea of “asset value-target selected-weapon decision.” Experimental results show that HA-SMR solving A-DWTA/RH has advantages of real-time and robustness. The obtained decision plan can fulfill the operational mission in the fewer stages and the “radical-conservative” degree can be adjusted adaptively by parameters.

Capital Allocation, Credit Access, and Firm Growth

In this chapter, the authors explore the relationship between firm growth, access to finance, and the efficiency of capital allocation in Vietnam over 2005–15. They test whether firms with higher marginal returns to capital are more or less likely to get access to financing. This is a key test of how efficiently the financial system is functioning. The authors also test whether credit supply constraints are hindering capital allocation by limiting the investment and employment activities of firms with the highest marginal return on capital. They find that high return investors, with the greatest marginal return on capital, have a lower likelihood of having formal finance (loans outstanding with formal credit institutions). The study finds evidence that rejected credit applications are limiting investment activity but not employment, particularly for firms with higher investment efficiency. This suggests a link between firm growth and a suboptimal allocation of credit.

Optimal Contracting with Endogenous Project Mission

Empirical evidence suggests that workers care about the mission of their job, in addition to their wage. This paper studies how organizations can choose a mission to attract, incentivize, and screen their workers. We analyze a model in which a principal offers a contract to an agent for the development of a project and can influence the agent’s marginal return of effort through the choice of project mission. The principal’s and the agents’ mission preferences are misaligned and the agents vary in the intensity of their mission drive. Our main results highlight that how far the organization chooses to move from its preferred mission depends on the contractual environment in which it operates. Missions will be more agent-preferred in environments in which effort is noncontractible. In environments in which agents’ drive is unknown, missions will be less agent-preferred and the organization will find it optimal to offer contract menus that may be implemented via scoring auctions when there are competing agents. Our analysis applies to the design and allocation of aid contracts, research funding, and creative jobs.

Analisis Hubungan IHK (Indeks Harga Konsumen) dan Kurs Beli IDR-USD Melalui Pendekatan Copula

Salah satu metode yang dapat digunakan untuk menganalisis keterhubungan antar dua peubah acak adalah metode dengan pendekatan copula. Copula (bivariat) bersifat fleksibel dalam menjelaskan keterhubungan antar dua peubah acak yang tidak linier dan dapat menggambarkan perilaku data bivariat yang memiliki distribusi-distribusi marginal yang berbeda keluarga. Dalam penelitian ini dikaji hubungan antara Indeks Harga Konsumen (IHK) dan return Kurs Beli IDR-USD melalui metode pendekatan copula. Data yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah data (sekunder) bulanan mengenai IHK dan return Kurs Beli IDR-USD selama periode Mei 2012 sampai Juni 2017. Estimasi parameter distribusi-distribusi marginal (IHK dan return Kurs beli IDR-USD) didasarkan pada metode Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) dan uji kecocokan distribusi-distribusi marginalnya didasarkan pada uji statistik Kolmogorov-Smirnov. Estimasi parameter copula yang cocok untuk menggambarkan keterhubungan data IHK dan return Kurs Beli IDR-USD didasarkan pada ukuran Kendall’s Tau dan Spearman’s Rho dari data tersebut. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa hubungan antara IHK dan return Kurs Beli IDR-USD berdasarkan ukuran Kendall’s Tau dan Spearman’s Rho adalah kecil yang berarti data saling bebas atau dengan arti lain hampir tidak memiliki keterhubungan. Sementara itu, keterhubungan IHK dan return Kurs Beli IDR-USD dapat digambarkan melalui suatu copula. Copula yang cocok untuk menggambarkan keterhubungan IHK dan return Kurs Beli IDR-USD sebagai hasil dalam bahasan paper ini adalah copula Clayton dengan distribusi marginal IHK adalah distribusi Laplace dan begitu pula distribusi marginal return Kurs Beli IDR-USD adalah distribusi Laplace. Dalam hal ini, copula Clayton itu adalah terbaik berdasarkan uji kecocokan copula yaitu melalui uji statistik Cram r-von Mises dengan nilai p-value tertinggi yang diperoleh dengan bantuan simulasi parametric bootstrap. Kata Kunci : Distribusi Bivariat, IHK dan Kurs IDR-USD, Ukuran Keterhubungan, Uji Kecocokan, Copula