Solving multi-objective multicast routing problems by evolutionary multi-objective simulated annealing algorithms with variable neighbourhoods

This paper presents the investigation of an evolutionary multi-objective simulated annealing (EMOSA) algorithm with variable neighbourhoods to solve the multi-objective multicast routing problems in telecommunications. The hybrid algorithm aims to carry out a more flexible and adaptive exploration in the complex search space by using features of the variable neighbourhood search to find more non-dominated solutions in the Pareto front. Different neighbourhood strictures have been designed with regard to the set of objectives, aiming to drive the search towards optimising all objectives simultaneously. A large number of simulations have been carried out on benchmark instances and random networks with real world features including cost, delay and link utilisations. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed EMOSA algorithm with variable neighbourhoods is able to find high-quality non-dominated solutions for the problems tested. In particular, the neighbourhood structures that are specifically designed for each objective significantly improved the performance of the proposed algorithm compared with variants of the algorithm with a single neighbourhood.     

蚁群遗传混合算法

将蚁群遗传混合算法分别求解离散空间的和连续空间优化问题.求解旅行商问题的混合算法是以遗传算法为整个算法的框架,利用了蚁群算法中的信息素特性的进行交叉操作;根据旅行商问题的特点,给出了4种变异策略;针对遗传算法存在的过早收敛问题,加入2-0pt方法对问题求解进行了局部优化.与模拟退火算法、标准遗传算法和标准蚁群算法进行比较,4种混合算法效果都比较好,策略D的混合算法效果最好.求解连续空间优化问题是以蚁群算法为整个算法的框架,加入遗传算法的交叉操作和变异操作,用测试函数验证了混合蚁群算法的正确性.     

A multicast routing algorithm based on searching in directed graph

Aiming at constructing a delay and delay variation bounded Steiner tree in the real-time streaming media communication, in this paper, we discuss a multicast routing algorithm based on searching a directed graph (MRASDH). During the process of the construction of the multicast tree, some nodes and links in the network topology do not affect the outcome of the constructed tree. Therefore, based on the thought of shrinking the search space through deleting these non-relative nodes and edges to the utmost, the ant algorithm is utilized to generate a directed sub-graph of the network topology for each destination node, in which each node owns a bounded out-degree. And all these sub-graphs can be merged into a new directed graph that serves as the new search space. In the new space, the simulated annealing algorithm is applied to obtain a multicast tree that satisfies the condition for the optimization. The performance analysis and simulation results demonstrate that this algorithm can effectively construct a delay and delay variation bounded multicast tree. They also show that the algorithm have lower time complexity than the current ones, which means a much better result would be achieved when the system scale rises greatly.     

遗传算法的物理解释

提出了一种理想化的模拟仿生搜索算法——扰动算法 ,以此方法为基础 ,分析了遗传算法的搜索过程和效率问题 ,阐明了遗传算法作为一种次优算法的有效性 .相对于遗传算法的生物解释 ,本文给出了相应的物理解释 .同时 ,本文为遗传算法、进化策略和模拟退火算法找到了一种统一的物理解释 ,揭示了这些重要的仿生类算法实质上的相似性 .     

A Hybrid Genetic Algorithm with Boltzmann Convergence Properties

Stochastic global search algorithms such as genetic algorithms are used to attack difficult combinatorial optimization problems. However, genetic algorithms suffer from the lack of a convergence proof. This means that it is difficult to establish reliable algorithm braking criteria without extensive a priori knowledge of the solution space. The hybrid genetic algorithm presented here combines a genetic algorithm with simulated annealing in order to overcome the algorithm convergence problem. The genetic algorithm runs inside the simulated annealing algorithm and provides convergence via a Boltzmann cooling process. The hybrid algorithm was used successfully to solve a classical 30-city traveling salesman problem; it consistently outperformed both a conventional genetic algorithm and a conventional simulated annealing algorithm. This work was supported by the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.     

A comparison of local search methods for flow shop scheduling

Local search techniques are widely used to obtain approximate solutions to a variety of combinatorial optimization problems. Two important categories of local search methods are neighbourhood search and genetic algorithms. Commonly used neighbourhood search methods include descent, threshold accepting, simulated annealing and tabu search. In this paper, we present a computational study that compares these four neighbourhood search methods, a genetic algorithm, and a hybrid method in which descent is incorporated into the genetic algorithm. The performance of these six local search methods is evaluated on the problem of scheduling jobs in a permutation flow shop to minimize the total weighted completion time. Based on the results of extensive computational tests, simulated annealing is found to generate better quality solutions than the other neighborhood search methods. However, the results also indicate that the hybrid genetic descent algorithm is superior to simulated annealing.     

A new hybrid genetic algorithm for the capacitated vehicle routing problem

Recently proved successful for variants of the vehicle routing problem (VRP) involving time windows, genetic algorithms have not yet shown to compete or challenge current best search techniques in solving the classical capacitated VRP. A new hybrid genetic algorithm to address the capacitated VRP is proposed. The basic scheme consists in concurrently evolving two populations of solutions to minimize total travelled distance using genetic operators combining variations of key concepts inspired from routing techniques and search strategies used for a time variant of the problem to further provide search guidance while balancing intensification and diversification. Results from a computational experiment over common benchmark problems report the proposed approach to be very competitive with the best-known methods.     

Metastrategy simulated annealing and tabu search algorithms for the vehicle routing problem

The vehicle routing problem (VRP) under capacity and distance restrictions involves the design of a set of minimum cost delivery routes, originating and terminating at a central depot, which services a set of customers. Each customer must be supplied exactly once by one vehicle route. The total demand of any vehicle must not exceed the vehicle capacity. The total length of any route must not exceed a pre-specified bound. Approximate methods based on descent, hybrid simulated annealing/tabu search, and tabu search algorithms are developed and different search strategies are investigated. A special data structure for the tabu search algorithm is implemented which has reduced notably the computational time by more than 50%. An estimate for the tabu list size is statistically derived. Computational results are reported on a sample of seventeen bench-mark test problems from the literature and nine randomly generated problems. The new methods improve significantly both the number of vehicles used and the total distances travelled on all results reported in the literature.     

Flooding-limited and multi-constrained QoS multicast routing based on the genetic algorithm for MANETs

A wireless MANET is a collection of wireless mobile hosts that dynamically create a temporary network without a fixed infrastructure. The topology of the network may change unpredictably and frequently. Therefore, multicast routing in ad hoc networks is a very challenging problem. This paper proposes a multi-constrained QoS multicast routing method using the genetic algorithm. The proposal will be flooding-limited using the available resources and minimum computation time in a dynamic environment. By selecting the appropriate values for parameters such as crossover, mutation, and population size, the genetic algorithm improves and tries to optimize the routes. Simulation results indicate its better performances compared to other methods.     

A genetic algorithm with local search strategy for improved detection of community structure

On the basis of modularity optimization, a genetic algorithm is proposed to detect community structure in networks by defining a local search operator. The local search operator emphasizes two features: one is that the connected nodes in a network should be located in the same community, while the other is “local selection” inspired by the mechanisms of efficient message delivery underlying the small‐world phenomenon. The results of community detection for some classic networks, such as Ucinet and Pajek networks, indicate that our algorithm achieves better community structure than other methodologies based on modularity optimization, such as the algorithms based on betweenness analysis, simulated annealing, or Tasgin and Bingol's genetic algorithm. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2010     

Optimizing of bullwhip effect and net stock amplification in three-echelon supply chains using evolutionary multi-objective metaheuristics

In this article, we intend to model and optimize the bullwhip effect (BWE) and net stock amplification (NSA) in a three-stage supply chain consisting of a retailer, a wholesaler, and a manufacturer under both centralized and decentralized scenarios. In this regard, firstly, the causes of BWE and NSA are mathematically formulated using response surface methodology (RSM) as a multi-objective optimization model that aims to minimize the BWE and NSA on both chains. The simultaneous analysis of the BWE and NSA is considered as the main novelty of this paper. To tackle the addressed problem, we propose a novel multi-objective hybrid evolutionary approach called MOHES; MOHES is a hybrid of two known multi-objective algorithms i.e. multi-objective electro magnetism mechanism algorithm (MOEMA) and population-based multi-objective simulated annealing (PBMOSA). We applied a co-evolutionary strategy for this purpose with eligibility of both algorithms. Proposed MOHES is compared with three common and popular algorithms (i.e. NRGA, NSGAII, and MOPSO). Since the utilized algorithms are very sensitive to parameter values, RSM with the multi-objective decision making (MODM) approach is employed to tune the parameters. Finally, the hybrid algorithm and the singular approaches are compared together in terms of some performance measures. The results indicate that the hybrid approach achieves better solutions when compared with the others, and also the results show that in a decentralized chain, the order batching factor and the demand signal processing in wholesaler are the most important factors on BWE. Conversely, in a centralized chain, factors such as rationing, shortage gaming, and lead time are the most effective at reducing the BWE.     

A hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for solving truck and trailer vehicle routing problems

This paper considers a transportation problem for moving empty or laden containers for a logistic company. Owing to the limited resource of its vehicles (trucks and trailers), the company often needs to sub-contract certain job orders to outsourced companies. A model for this truck and trailer vehicle routing problem (TTVRP) is first constructed in the paper. The solution to the TTVRP consists of finding a complete routing schedule for serving the jobs with minimum routing distance and number of trucks, subject to a number of constraints such as time windows and availability of trailers. To solve such a multi-objective and multi-modal combinatorial optimization problem, a hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (HMOEA) featured with specialized genetic operators, variable-length representation and local search heuristic is applied to find the Pareto optimal routing solutions for the TTVRP. Detailed analysis is performed to extract useful decision-making information from the multi-objective optimization results as well as to examine the correlations among different variables, such as the number of trucks and trailers, the trailer exchange points, and the utilization of trucks in the routing solutions. It has been shown that the HMOEA is effective in solving multi-objective combinatorial optimization problems, such as finding useful trade-off solutions for the TTVRP routing problem.     

Availability allocation and multi-objective optimization for parallel–series systems

Availability allocation is required when the manufacturer is obliged to allocate proper availability to various components in order to design an end product to meet specified requirements. This paper proposes a new multi-objective genetic algorithm, namely simulated annealing based multi-objective genetic algorithm (saMOGA), to resolve the availability allocation and optimization problems of a repairable system, specifically a parallel–series system. Compared with a general multi-objective genetic algorithm, the major feature of the saMOGA is that it can accept a poor solution with a small probability in order to enlarge the searching space and avoid the local optimum. The saMOGA aims to determine the optimal decision variables, i.e. failure rates, repair rates, and the number of components in each subsystem, according to multiple objectives, such as system availability, system cost and system net profit. The proposed saMOGA is compared with three other multi-objective genetic algorithms. Computational results showed that the proposed approach could provide higher solution quality and greater computing efficiency.     

A tabu search algorithm for the training of neural networks

The most widely used training algorithm of neural networks (NNs) is back propagation (BP), a gradient-based technique that requires significant computational effort. Metaheuristic search techniques such as genetic algorithms, tabu search (TS) and simulated annealing have been recently used to cope with major shortcomings of BP such as the tendency to converge to a local optimal and a slow convergence rate. In this paper, an efficient TS algorithm employing different strategies to provide a balance between intensification and diversification is proposed for the training of NNs. The proposed algorithm is compared with other metaheuristic techniques found in literature using published test problems, and found to outperform them in the majority of the test cases.     

Evolutionary annealing: global optimization in measure spaces

Stochastic optimization methods such as evolutionary algorithms and Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods usually involve a Markov search of the optimization domain. Evolutionary annealing is an evolutionary algorithm that leverages all the information gathered by previous queries to the cost function. Evolutionary annealing can be viewed either as simulated annealing with improved sampling or as a non-Markovian selection mechanism for evolutionary algorithms. This article develops the basic algorithm and presents implementation details. Evolutionary annealing is a martingale-driven optimizer, where evaluation yields a source of increasingly refined information about the fitness function. A set of experiments with twelve standard global optimization benchmarks is performed to compare evolutionary annealing with six other stochastic optimization methods. Evolutionary annealing outperforms other methods on asymmetric, multimodal, non-separable benchmarks and exhibits strong performance on others. It is therefore a promising new approach to global optimization.     

A hybrid optimization technique coupling an evolutionary and a local search algorithm

Evolutionary algorithms are robust and powerful global optimization techniques for solving large-scale problems that have many local optima. However, they require high CPU times, and they are very poor in terms of convergence performance. On the other hand, local search algorithms can converge in a few iterations but lack a global perspective. The combination of global and local search procedures should offer the advantages of both optimization methods while offsetting their disadvantages. This paper proposes a new hybrid optimization technique that merges a genetic algorithm with a local search strategy based on the interior point method. The efficiency of this hybrid approach is demonstrated by solving a constrained multi-objective mathematical test-case.     

An algorithm for the capacitated vehicle routing problem with route balancing

In this paper, we present a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for the capacitated vehicle routing problem with route balancing. The algorithm is based on a formerly developed multi-objective algorithm using an explicit collective memory method, namely the extended virtual loser (EVL). We adapted and improved the algorithm and the EVL method for this problem. We achieved good results with this simple technique. In case of this problem the quality of the results of the algorithm is similar to that of other evolutionary algorithms.     

A preference-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm R-NSGA-II with stochastic local search

Incorporation of a decision maker’s preferences into multi-objective evolutionary algorithms has become a relevant trend during the last decade, and several preference-based evolutionary algorithms have been proposed in the literature. Our research is focused on improvement of a well-known preference-based evolutionary algorithm R-NSGA-II by incorporating a local search strategy based on a single agent stochastic approach. The proposed memetic algorithm has been experimentally evaluated by solving a set of well-known multi-objective optimization benchmark problems. It has been experimentally shown that incorporation of the local search strategy has a positive impact to the quality of the algorithm in the sense of the precision and distribution evenness of approximation.     

B2C电子商务仓库拣货路径优化策略应用研究

当前国内B2C电子商务仓库多为人至物的拣货模式,拣货作业成为其核心作业之一,占据仓库大量时间成本和资金成本,拣货路径优化成为企业亟需解决的问题。本文基于TSP对拣货路径进行建模,利用蚁群算法、模拟退火算法和禁忌搜索对该NP-hard问题进行求解,并同当前企业普遍采用的S型启发式策略进行对比,拣货时间节约13.35%。进一步得出当拣货品数量较少时应采用模拟退火算法求解,而当拣货品数量较大时采用蚁群算法仅进行一次迭代,则可以实现短时间得到相对较优的解。所得结果已应用于某大型电子商务企业,效果明显。     

Particle swarm optimization for the Steiner tree in graph and delay-constrained multicast routing problems

This paper presents the first investigation on applying a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to both the Steiner tree problem and the delay constrained multicast routing problem. Steiner tree problems, being the underlining models of many applications, have received significant research attention within the meta-heuristics community. The literature on the application of meta-heuristics to multicast routing problems is less extensive but includes several promising approaches. Many interesting research issues still remain to be investigated, for example, the inclusion of different constraints, such as delay bounds, when finding multicast trees with minimum cost. In this paper, we develop a novel PSO algorithm based on the jumping PSO (JPSO) algorithm recently developed by Moreno-Perez et al. (Proc. of the 7th Metaheuristics International Conference, 2007), and also propose two novel local search heuristics within our JPSO framework. A path replacement operator has been used in particle moves to improve the positions of the particle with regard to the structure of the tree. We test the performance of our JPSO algorithm, and the effect of the integrated local search heuristics by an extensive set of experiments on multicast routing benchmark problems and Steiner tree problems from the OR library. The experimental results show the superior performance of the proposed JPSO algorithm over a number of other state-of-the-art approaches.