A brain storm optimization approach for the cumulative capacitated vehicle routing problem

The cumulative capacitated vehicle routing problem (CCVRP) is a combinatorial optimization problem which aims to minimize the sum of arrival times at customers. This paper presents a brain storm optimization algorithm to solve the CCVRP. Based on the characteristics of the CCVRP, we design new convergent and divergent operations. The convergent operation picks up and perturbs the best-so-far solution. It decomposes the resulting solution into a set of independent partial solutions and then determines a set of subproblems which are smaller CCVRPs. Instead of directly generating solutions for the original problem, the divergent operation selects one of three operators to generate new solutions for subproblems and then assembles a solution to the original problem by using those new solutions to the subproblems. The proposed algorithm was tested on benchmark instances, some of which have more than 560 nodes. The results show that our algorithm is very effective in contrast to the existing algorithms. Most notably, the proposed algorithm can find new best solutions for 8 medium instances and 7 large instances within short time.     

A parallel insert method for the capacitated arc routing problem

The arc routing problem involves the total distance covered in traversing a certain number of arcs in a network. In the capacitated version of this problem of a finite capacity is associated with each vehicle. In this paper we introduce a new approximate solution strategy for the capacitated arc routing problem (CARP). This strategy usesd an insertion procedure to generate many routes in parallel. The purpose is to obtain a better balance between the costs of each route. Computational results are reported.     

基于油耗的带有车容限制弧路径问题的模型及优化

提出了一种基于油耗的带有车容限制的弧路径问题(Capacitated Arc RoutingProblem,CARP),建立了以降低油耗为目标的问题模型,构造了相应的遗传算法.基于标准测试问题,同传统以距离为优化目标的遗传算法求得的油耗进行比较,实验结果表明,此算法可以快速、有效的求得以油耗为优化目标的CARP问题的优化解,为实际中降低车辆运输服务成本提供了较好方案.     

Exact algorithms for the chance-constrained vehicle routing problem

We study the chance-constrained vehicle routing problem (CCVRP), a version of the vehicle routing problem (VRP) with stochastic demands, where a limit is imposed on the probability that each vehicle’s capacity is exceeded. A distinguishing feature of our proposed methodologies is that they allow correlation between random demands, whereas nearly all existing exact methods for the VRP with stochastic demands require independent demands. We first study an edge-based formulation for the CCVRP, in particular addressing the challenge of how to determine a lower bound on the number of vehicles required to serve a subset of customers. We then investigate the use of a branch-and-cut-and-price (BCP) algorithm. While BCP algorithms have been considered the state of the art in solving the deterministic VRP, few attempts have been made to extend this framework to the VRP with stochastic demands. In contrast to the deterministic VRP, we find that the pricing problem for the CCVRP problem is strongly \(\mathcal {NP}\)-hard, even when the routes being priced are allowed to have cycles. We therefore propose a further relaxation of the routes that enables pricing via dynamic programming. We also demonstrate how our proposed methodologies can be adapted to solve a distributionally robust CCVRP problem. Numerical results indicate that the proposed methods can solve instances of CCVRP having up to 55 vertices.     

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.     

Symmetry helps: Bounded bi-directional dynamic programming for the elementary shortest path problem with resource constraints

When vehicle routing problems with additional constraints, such as capacity or time windows, are solved via column generation and branch-and-price, it is common that the pricing subproblem requires the computation of a minimum cost constrained path on a graph with costs on the arcs and prizes on the vertices. A common solution technique for this problem is dynamic programming. In this paper we illustrate how the basic dynamic programming algorithm can be improved by bounded bi-directional search and we experimentally evaluate the effectiveness of the enhancement proposed. We consider as benchmark problems the elementary shortest path problems arising as pricing subproblems in branch-and-price algorithms for the capacitated vehicle routing problem, the vehicle routing problem with distribution and collection and the capacitated vehicle routing problem with time windows.     

多时间窗车辆路径问题的智能水滴算法

研究了多时间窗车辆路径问题,考虑了车容量、多个硬时间窗限制等约束条件,以动用车辆的固定成本和车辆运行成本之和最小为目标,建立了整数线性规划模型。根据智能水滴算法的基本原理,设计了求解多时间窗车辆路径问题的快速算法,利用具体实例进行了模拟计算,并与遗传算法的计算结果进行了对比分析,结果显示,利用智能水滴算法求解多时间窗车辆路径问题,能够以很高的概率得到全局最优解,是求解多时间窗车辆路径问题的有效算法。     

Multi-ant colony system (MACS) for a vehicle routing problem with backhauls

The vehicle routing problem with backhaul (VRPB) is an extension of the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP). In VRPB, there are linehaul as well as backhaul customers. The number of vehicles is considered to be fixed and deliveries for linehaul customers must be made before any pickups from backhaul customers. The objective is to design routes for the vehicles so that the total distance traveled is minimized. We use multi-ant colony system (MACS) to solve VRPB which is a combinatorial optimization problem. Ant colony system (ACS) is an algorithmic approach inspired by foraging behavior of real ants. Artificial ants are used to construct a solution by using pheromone information from previously generated solutions. The proposed MACS algorithm uses a new construction rule as well as two multi-route local search schemes. An extensive numerical experiment is performed on benchmark problems available in the literature.     

面向电商终端物流配送的电动车配置与路径集成优化

在电子商务终端物流配送方面,存在能力与需求的矛盾。一方面,电动车存在货物容量约束和电池电量约束,配送能力有限;另一方面,一个物流配送点需要为众多的消费者进行门到门的配送,配送任务繁重。针对电子商务环境下终端物流配送规模大、电动车货物容量和行驶里程有限的问题,建立电商终端物流配送的电动车配置与路径规划集成优化模型,并提出一种基于临近城市列表的双策略蚁群算法,实现物流配送电动车辆配置与配送路径集成优化。该模型以电动车辆数最少和总路径最短为目标,以电动车货物容量和电池续航里程为约束,是带容量的车辆路径问题的进一步扩展,属于双容量约束路径规划问题。双策略蚁群算法在货物容量和续航里程的约束下,将蚁群搜索策略分为两类,即基于临近城市列表的局部搜索策略和全局搜索策略,在提高搜索效率的同时防止陷入局部优化。最后,通过阿里巴巴旗下菜鸟网络科技有限公司在上海的30组真实配送数据进行了测试,验证双策略蚁群算法显著优于一般蚁群算法。     

Optimised crossover genetic algorithm for capacitated vehicle routing problem

This paper presents a genetic algorithm for solving capacitated vehicle routing problem, which is mainly characterised by using vehicles of the same capacity based at a central depot that will be optimally routed to supply customers with known demands. The proposed algorithm uses an optimised crossover operator designed by a complete undirected bipartite graph to find an optimal set of delivery routes satisfying the requirements and giving minimal total cost. We tested our algorithm with benchmark instances and compared it with some other heuristics in the literature. Computational results showed that the proposed algorithm is competitive in terms of the quality of the solutions found.     

The pyramidal capacitated vehicle routing problem

This paper introduces the pyramidal capacitated vehicle routing problem (PCVRP) as a restricted version of the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP). In the PCVRP each route is required to be pyramidal in a sense generalized from the pyramidal traveling salesman problem (PTSP). A pyramidal route is defined as a route on which the vehicle first visits customers in increasing order of customer index, and on the remaining part of the route visits customers in decreasing order of customer index.     

Combination of geographical information system and efficient routing algorithms for real life distribution operations

This paper presents a decision support system (DSS) employing a metaheuristic algorithm called BoneRoute, for solving the open vehicle routing problem (OVRP). The OVRP deals with the problem of finding a set of vehicle routes, for a fleet of capacitated vehicles to satisfy the delivery requirements of customers, without returning to the distribution centre. The computational performance of the BoneRoute algorithm for the OVRP was found to be very efficient, producing new best solutions over a set of well-known published case studies examined. Technical and managerial issues aroused from the ad hoc connections between the geographical information system (GIS), the routing technique used for calculating shortest paths and the BoneRoute algorithm for finding the optimal sequence of customers, were faced successfully.     

Use of the BATA algorithm and MIS to solve the mail carrier problem

This paper presents a management information system (MIS) related to a new meta-heuristic algorithm used for solving the mail carrier problem. Although the mail carrier problem involves both pick-ups and deliveries, the problem is stated as the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP), using zero customer demands, since their quantity (number of letters) is not taken into consideration, due to negligible volume occupying in the boot of motor scooter used for distribution operations. The proposed meta-heuristic algorithm termed as backtracking adaptive threshold accepting (BATA) was tested on some known benchmark problems extracted from the literature and it was proved to be quite efficient.     

A branch-and-price algorithm for the capacitated vehicle routing problem with stochastic demands

This article introduces a new exact algorithm for the capacitated vehicle routing problem with stochastic demands (CVRPSD). The CVRPSD can be formulated as a set partitioning problem and it is shown that the associated column generation subproblem can be solved using a dynamic programming scheme. Computational experiments show promising results.     

Lower and upper bounds for location-arc routing problems with vehicle capacity constraints

This paper addresses multi-depot location arc routing problems with vehicle capacity constraints. Two mixed integer programming models are presented for single and multi-depot problems. Relaxing these formulations leads to other integer programming models whose solutions provide good lower bounds for the total cost. A powerful insertion heuristic has been developed for solving the underlying capacitated arc routing problem. This heuristic is used together with a novel location–allocation heuristic to solve the problem within a simulated annealing framework. Extensive computational results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can find high quality solutions. We also show that the potential cost saving resulting from adding location decisions to the capacitated arc routing problem is significant.     

现金押运路线问题——基于多类型的风险

以人民币现金押运为研究背景,考虑了一种基于多类型风险的现金押运路线问题,以在途风险成本、库存现金风险成本以及运输成本为优化目标,建立了混合整数线性规划模型,并提出了一种基于多样化策略和改进邻域搜索的混合遗传算法,其中遗传算法对押运路线进行选择,贪心算法用来求解各类风险指标。数值实验分别对问题特性和算法性能进行了分析。实验结果表明:1)混合遗传算法能求解更大规模的问题,得到较好的解,并很好地平衡了运行时间和求解质量;2)多类型风险影响了行驶路线;3)客户的期望需求影响了库存现金风险。     

基于交通流的多模糊时间窗车辆路径优化

研究了基于交通流的多模糊时间窗车辆路径问题,考虑了实际中不断变化的交通流以及客户具有多个模糊时间窗的情况,以最小化配送总成本和最大化客户满意度为目标,构建基于交通流的多模糊时间窗车辆路径模型。根据伊藤算法的基本原理,设计了求解该模型的改进伊藤算法,结合仿真算例进行了模拟计算,并与蚁群算法的计算结果进行了对比分析,结果表明,利用改进伊藤算法求解基于交通流的多模糊时间窗车辆路径问题,迭代次数小,效率更高,能够在较短的时间内收敛到全局最优解,可以有效的求解多模糊时间窗车辆路径问题。     

车辆路径问题的混合优化算法

讨论了一类车辆路径调度问题(VRP)及其数学模型，并且分析了以遗传算法求解该类问题时的染色体表示和有关遗传操作，然后结合2-opt局部优化算法提出了GA with2-opt算法来求解VRP问题，试验结果说明了该算法的有效性和可行性。     

Solving the capacitated vehicle routing problem using the ALGELECT electrostatic algorithm

The capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP) with a single depot is a classic routing problem with numerous real-world applications. This paper describes the design, modelling and computational aspects of ALGELECT (electrostatic algorithm), a new algorithm for the CVRP. After some general remarks about the origin of the algorithm and its parameters, a parameter tuning process is carried out in order to improve its efficiency. The algorithm is then explained in detail and its main characteristics are presented. Thus, ALGELECT develops good-quality solutions to the CVRP, in terms of the number of scheduled routes and the load ratio of the delivery vehicles. Finally, ALGELECT is used to find solutions for some Solomon's and Augerat's instances, which are then compared to solutions generated by other well-known methods.     

Bi-criteria dynamic location-routing problem for patrol coverage

In this paper, we address the problem of dynamic patrol routing for state troopers for effective coverage of highways. Specifically, a number of state troopers start their routes at temporary stations (TS), patrol critical locations with high crash frequencies, and end their shifts at other (or the same) TS so the starting points for the next period are also optimized. We determine the number of state troopers, their assigned routes, and the locations of the TS where they start and end their routes. The TS are selected from a given set of potential locations. The problem, therefore, is a multi-period dynamic location-routing problem in the context of public service. Our objective is to maximize the critical location coverage benefit while minimizing the costs of TS selections, vehicle utilizations, and routing/travel. The multi-objective nature of the problem is handled using an ?-constraint approach. We formulate the problem as a mixed integer linear programming model and solve it using both off-the-shelf optimization software and a custom-built, efficient heuristic algorithm. The heuristic, utilizing the hierarchical structure of the problem, is built on the decomposition of location and routing problems. By allowing routing to start from multiple locations, our model improves the coverage by as much as 12% compared with the single-depot coverage model.