We introduce Quafu-Qcover,an open-source cloud-based software package developed for solving combinatorial optimization problems using quantum simulators and hardware backends.Quafu-Qcover provides a standardized and c...We introduce Quafu-Qcover,an open-source cloud-based software package developed for solving combinatorial optimization problems using quantum simulators and hardware backends.Quafu-Qcover provides a standardized and comprehensive workflow that utilizes the quantum approximate optimization algorithm(QAOA).It facilitates the automatic conversion of the original problem into a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization(QUBO)model and its corresponding Ising model,which can be subsequently transformed into a weight graph.The core of Qcover relies on a graph decomposition-based classical algorithm,which efficiently derives the optimal parameters for the shallow QAOA circuit.Quafu-Qcover incorporates a dedicated compiler capable of translating QAOA circuits into physical quantum circuits that can be executed on Quafu cloud quantum computers.Compared to a general-purpose compiler,our compiler demonstrates the ability to generate shorter circuit depths,while also exhibiting superior speed performance.Additionally,the Qcover compiler has the capability to dynamically create a library of qubits coupling substructures in real-time,utilizing the most recent calibration data from the superconducting quantum devices.This ensures that computational tasks can be assigned to connected physical qubits with the highest fidelity.The Quafu-Qcover allows us to retrieve quantum computing sampling results using a task ID at any time,enabling asynchronous processing.Moreover,it incorporates modules for results preprocessing and visualization,facilitating an intuitive display of solutions for combinatorial optimization problems.We hope that Quafu-Qcover can serve as an instructive illustration for how to explore application problems on the Quafu cloud quantum computers.展开更多
This paper is basically a survey to show a number of combinatorial optimization problems arising from VLSI circuit design. Some of them including the existence problem, minimax problem, net representation, bend minimi...This paper is basically a survey to show a number of combinatorial optimization problems arising from VLSI circuit design. Some of them including the existence problem, minimax problem, net representation, bend minimization, area minimization, placement problem, routing problem, etc. are especially discussed with new results and theoretical ideas for treating them. Finally, a number of problems for further research are mentioned.展开更多
Formalizing complex processes and phenomena of a real-world problem may require a large number of variables and constraints,resulting in what is termed a large-scale optimization problem.Nowadays,such large-scale opti...Formalizing complex processes and phenomena of a real-world problem may require a large number of variables and constraints,resulting in what is termed a large-scale optimization problem.Nowadays,such large-scale optimization problems are solved using computing machines,leading to an enormous computational time being required,which may delay deriving timely solutions.Decomposition methods,which partition a large-scale optimization problem into lower-dimensional subproblems,represent a key approach to addressing time-efficiency issues.There has been significant progress in both applied mathematics and emerging artificial intelligence approaches on this front.This work aims at providing an overview of the decomposition methods from both the mathematics and computer science points of view.We also remark on the state-of-the-art developments and recent applications of the decomposition methods,and discuss the future research and development perspectives.展开更多
Most material distribution-based topology optimization methods work on a relaxed form of the optimization problem and then push the solution toward the binary limits.However,when benchmarking these methods,researchers...Most material distribution-based topology optimization methods work on a relaxed form of the optimization problem and then push the solution toward the binary limits.However,when benchmarking these methods,researchers use known solutions to only a single form of benchmark problem.This paper proposes a comparison platform for systematic benchmarking of topology optimization methods using both binary and relaxed forms.A greyness measure is implemented to evaluate how far a solution is from the desired binary form.The well-known ZhouRozvany(ZR)problem is selected as the benchmarking problem here,making use of available global solutions for both its relaxed and binary forms.The recently developed non-penalization Smooth-edged Material Distribution for Optimizing Topology(SEMDOT),well-established Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization(SIMP),and continuation methods are studied on this platform.Interestingly,in most cases,the grayscale solutions obtained by SEMDOT demonstrate better performance in dealing with the ZR problem than SIMP.The reasons are investigated and attributed to the usage of two different regularization techniques,namely,the Heaviside smooth function in SEMDOT and the power-law penalty in SIMP.More importantly,a simple-to-use benchmarking graph is proposed for evaluating newly developed topology optimization methods.展开更多
Owing to their global search capabilities and gradient-free operation,metaheuristic algorithms are widely applied to a wide range of optimization problems.However,their computational demands become prohibitive when ta...Owing to their global search capabilities and gradient-free operation,metaheuristic algorithms are widely applied to a wide range of optimization problems.However,their computational demands become prohibitive when tackling high-dimensional optimization challenges.To effectively address these challenges,this study introduces cooperative metaheuristics integrating dynamic dimension reduction(DR).Building upon particle swarm optimization(PSO)and differential evolution(DE),the proposed cooperative methods C-PSO and C-DE are developed.In the proposed methods,the modified principal components analysis(PCA)is utilized to reduce the dimension of design variables,thereby decreasing computational costs.The dynamic DR strategy implements periodic execution of modified PCA after a fixed number of iterations,resulting in the important dimensions being dynamically identified.Compared with the static one,the dynamic DR strategy can achieve precise identification of important dimensions,thereby enabling accelerated convergence toward optimal solutions.Furthermore,the influence of cumulative contribution rate thresholds on optimization problems with different dimensions is investigated.Metaheuristic algorithms(PSO,DE)and cooperative metaheuristics(C-PSO,C-DE)are examined by 15 benchmark functions and two engineering design problems(speed reducer and composite pressure vessel).Comparative results demonstrate that the cooperative methods achieve significantly superior performance compared to standard methods in both solution accuracy and computational efficiency.Compared to standard metaheuristic algorithms,cooperative metaheuristics achieve a reduction in computational cost of at least 40%.The cooperative metaheuristics can be effectively used to tackle both high-dimensional unconstrained and constrained optimization problems.展开更多
Real-world engineering design problems with complex objective functions under some constraints are relatively difficult problems to solve.Such design problems are widely experienced in many engineering fields,such as ...Real-world engineering design problems with complex objective functions under some constraints are relatively difficult problems to solve.Such design problems are widely experienced in many engineering fields,such as industry,automotive,construction,machinery,and interdisciplinary research.However,there are established optimization techniques that have shown effectiveness in addressing these types of issues.This research paper gives a comparative study of the implementation of seventeen new metaheuristic methods in order to optimize twelve distinct engineering design issues.The algorithms used in the study are listed as:transient search optimization(TSO),equilibrium optimizer(EO),grey wolf optimizer(GWO),moth-flame optimization(MFO),whale optimization algorithm(WOA),slimemould algorithm(SMA),harris hawks optimization(HHO),chimp optimization algorithm(COA),coot optimization algorithm(COOT),multi-verse optimization(MVO),arithmetic optimization algorithm(AOA),aquila optimizer(AO),sine cosine algorithm(SCA),smell agent optimization(SAO),and seagull optimization algorithm(SOA),pelican optimization algorithm(POA),and coati optimization algorithm(CA).As far as we know,there is no comparative analysis of recent and popular methods against the concrete conditions of real-world engineering problems.Hence,a remarkable research guideline is presented in the study for researchersworking in the fields of engineering and artificial intelligence,especiallywhen applying the optimization methods that have emerged recently.Future research can rely on this work for a literature search on comparisons of metaheuristic optimization methods in real-world problems under similar conditions.展开更多
Combinatorial Optimization Problems(COPs)are a class of optimization problems that are commonly encountered in industrial production and everyday life.Over the last few decades,traditional algorithms,such as exact alg...Combinatorial Optimization Problems(COPs)are a class of optimization problems that are commonly encountered in industrial production and everyday life.Over the last few decades,traditional algorithms,such as exact algorithms,approximate algorithms,and heuristic algorithms,have been proposed to solve COPs.However,as COPs in the real world become more complex,traditional algorithms struggle to generate optimal solutions in a limited amount of time.Since Deep Neural Networks(DNNs)are not heavily dependent on expert knowledge and are adequately flexible for generalization to various COPs,several DNN-based algorithms have been proposed in the last ten years for solving COPs.Herein,we categorize these algorithms into four classes and provide a brief overview of their applications in real-world problems.展开更多
The Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows(VRPTW)presents a significant challenge in combinatorial optimization,especially under real-world uncertainties such as variable travel times,service durations,and dynamic ...The Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows(VRPTW)presents a significant challenge in combinatorial optimization,especially under real-world uncertainties such as variable travel times,service durations,and dynamic customer demands.These uncertainties make traditional deterministic models inadequate,often leading to suboptimal or infeasible solutions.To address these challenges,this work proposes an adaptive hybrid metaheuristic that integrates Genetic Algorithms(GA)with Local Search(LS),while incorporating stochastic uncertainty modeling through probabilistic travel times.The proposed algorithm dynamically adjusts parameters—such as mutation rate and local search probability—based on real-time search performance.This adaptivity enhances the algorithm’s ability to balance exploration and exploitation during the optimization process.Travel time uncertainties are modeled using Gaussian noise,and solution robustness is evaluated through scenario-based simulations.We test our method on a set of benchmark problems from Solomon’s instance suite,comparing its performance under deterministic and stochastic conditions.Results show that the proposed hybrid approach achieves up to a 9%reduction in expected total travel time and a 40% reduction in time window violations compared to baseline methods,including classical GA and non-adaptive hybrids.Additionally,the algorithm demonstrates strong robustness,with lower solution variance across uncertainty scenarios,and converges faster than competing approaches.These findings highlight the method’s suitability for practical logistics applications such as last-mile delivery and real-time transportation planning,where uncertainty and service-level constraints are critical.The flexibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework make it a promising candidate for deployment in dynamic,uncertainty-aware supply chain environments.展开更多
Artificial rabbits optimization(ARO)is a recently proposed biology-based optimization algorithm inspired by the detour foraging and random hiding behavior of rabbits in nature.However,for solving optimization problems...Artificial rabbits optimization(ARO)is a recently proposed biology-based optimization algorithm inspired by the detour foraging and random hiding behavior of rabbits in nature.However,for solving optimization problems,the ARO algorithm shows slow convergence speed and can fall into local minima.To overcome these drawbacks,this paper proposes chaotic opposition-based learning ARO(COARO),an improved version of the ARO algorithm that incorporates opposition-based learning(OBL)and chaotic local search(CLS)techniques.By adding OBL to ARO,the convergence speed of the algorithm increases and it explores the search space better.Chaotic maps in CLS provide rapid convergence by scanning the search space efficiently,since their ergodicity and non-repetitive properties.The proposed COARO algorithm has been tested using thirty-three distinct benchmark functions.The outcomes have been compared with the most recent optimization algorithms.Additionally,the COARO algorithm’s problem-solving capabilities have been evaluated using six different engineering design problems and compared with various other algorithms.This study also introduces a binary variant of the continuous COARO algorithm,named BCOARO.The performance of BCOARO was evaluated on the breast cancer dataset.The effectiveness of BCOARO has been compared with different feature selection algorithms.The proposed BCOARO outperforms alternative algorithms,according to the findings obtained for real applications in terms of accuracy performance,and fitness value.Extensive experiments show that the COARO and BCOARO algorithms achieve promising results compared to other metaheuristic algorithms.展开更多
Drone logistics is a novel method of distribution that will become prevalent.The advantageous location of the logistics hub enables quicker customer deliveries and lower fuel consumption,resulting in cost savings for ...Drone logistics is a novel method of distribution that will become prevalent.The advantageous location of the logistics hub enables quicker customer deliveries and lower fuel consumption,resulting in cost savings for the company’s transportation operations.Logistics firms must discern the ideal location for establishing a logistics hub,which is challenging due to the simplicity of existing models and the intricate delivery factors.To simulate the drone logistics environment,this study presents a new mathematical model.The model not only retains the aspects of the current models,but also considers the degree of transportation difficulty from the logistics hub to the village,the capacity of drones for transportation,and the distribution of logistics hub locations.Moreover,this paper proposes an improved particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm which is a diversity-based hybrid PSO(DHPSO)algorithm to solve this model.In DHPSO,the Gaussian random walk can enhance global search in the model space,while the bubble-net attacking strategy can speed convergence.Besides,Archimedes spiral strategy is employed to overcome the local optima trap in the model and improve the exploitation of the algorithm.DHPSO maintains a balance between exploration and exploitation while better defining the distribution of logistics hub locations Numerical experiments show that the newly proposed model always achieves better locations than the current model.Comparing DHPSO with other state-of-the-art intelligent algorithms,the efficiency of the scheme can be improved by 42.58%.This means that logistics companies can reduce distribution costs and consumers can enjoy a more enjoyable shopping experience by using DHPSO’s location selection.All the results show the location of the drone logistics hub is solved by DHPSO effectively.展开更多
Traditional expert-designed branching rules in branch-and-bound(B&B) are static, often failing to adapt to diverse and evolving problem instances. Crafting these rules is labor-intensive, and may not scale well wi...Traditional expert-designed branching rules in branch-and-bound(B&B) are static, often failing to adapt to diverse and evolving problem instances. Crafting these rules is labor-intensive, and may not scale well with complex problems.Given the frequent need to solve varied combinatorial optimization problems, leveraging statistical learning to auto-tune B&B algorithms for specific problem classes becomes attractive. This paper proposes a graph pointer network model to learn the branch rules. Graph features, global features and historical features are designated to represent the solver state. The graph neural network processes graph features, while the pointer mechanism assimilates the global and historical features to finally determine the variable on which to branch. The model is trained to imitate the expert strong branching rule by a tailored top-k Kullback-Leibler divergence loss function. Experiments on a series of benchmark problems demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the widely used expert-designed branching rules. It also outperforms state-of-the-art machine-learning-based branch-and-bound methods in terms of solving speed and search tree size on all the test instances. In addition, the model can generalize to unseen instances and scale to larger instances.展开更多
In practical engineering,multi-objective optimization often encounters situations where multiple Pareto sets(PS)in the decision space correspond to the same Pareto front(PF)in the objective space,known as Multi-Modal ...In practical engineering,multi-objective optimization often encounters situations where multiple Pareto sets(PS)in the decision space correspond to the same Pareto front(PF)in the objective space,known as Multi-Modal Multi-Objective Optimization Problems(MMOP).Locating multiple equivalent global PSs poses a significant challenge in real-world applications,especially considering the existence of local PSs.Effectively identifying and locating both global and local PSs is a major challenge.To tackle this issue,we introduce an immune-inspired reproduction strategy designed to produce more offspring in less crowded,promising regions and regulate the number of offspring in areas that have been thoroughly explored.This approach achieves a balanced trade-off between exploration and exploitation.Furthermore,we present an interval allocation strategy that adaptively assigns fitness levels to each antibody.This strategy ensures a broader survival margin for solutions in their initial stages and progressively amplifies the differences in individual fitness values as the population matures,thus fostering better population convergence.Additionally,we incorporate a multi-population mechanism that precisely manages each subpopulation through the interval allocation strategy,ensuring the preservation of both global and local PSs.Experimental results on 21 test problems,encompassing both global and local PSs,are compared with eight state-of-the-art multimodal multi-objective optimization algorithms.The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm in simultaneously identifying global Pareto sets and locally high-quality PSs.展开更多
Sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLMOPs)are common in science and engineering.However,the large-scale problem represents the high dimensionality of the decision space,requiring algorithms to tr...Sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLMOPs)are common in science and engineering.However,the large-scale problem represents the high dimensionality of the decision space,requiring algorithms to traverse vast expanse with limited computational resources.Furthermore,in the context of sparse,most variables in Pareto optimal solutions are zero,making it difficult for algorithms to identify non-zero variables efficiently.This paper is dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by SLMOPs.To start,we introduce innovative objective functions customized to mine maximum and minimum candidate sets.This substantial enhancement dramatically improves the efficacy of frequent pattern mining.In this way,selecting candidate sets is no longer based on the quantity of nonzero variables they contain but on a higher proportion of nonzero variables within specific dimensions.Additionally,we unveil a novel approach to association rule mining,which delves into the intricate relationships between non-zero variables.This novel methodology aids in identifying sparse distributions that can potentially expedite reductions in the objective function value.We extensively tested our algorithm across eight benchmark problems and four real-world SLMOPs.The results demonstrate that our approach achieves competitive solutions across various challenges.展开更多
This work investigates a multi-product parallel disassembly line balancing problem considering multi-skilled workers.A mathematical model for the parallel disassembly line is established to achieve maximized disassemb...This work investigates a multi-product parallel disassembly line balancing problem considering multi-skilled workers.A mathematical model for the parallel disassembly line is established to achieve maximized disassembly profit and minimized workstation cycle time.Based on a product’s AND/OR graph,matrices for task-skill,worker-skill,precedence relationships,and disassembly correlations are developed.A multi-objective discrete chemical reaction optimization algorithm is designed.To enhance solution diversity,improvements are made to four reactions:decomposition,synthesis,intermolecular ineffective collision,and wall invalid collision reaction,completing the evolution of molecular individuals.The established model and improved algorithm are applied to ball pen,flashlight,washing machine,and radio combinations,respectively.Introducing a Collaborative Resource Allocation(CRA)strategy based on a Decomposition-Based Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm,the experimental results are compared with four classical algorithms:MOEA/D,MOEAD-CRA,Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅱ(NSGA-Ⅱ),and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅲ(NSGA-Ⅲ).This validates the feasibility and superiority of the proposed algorithm in parallel disassembly production lines.展开更多
Software Defined Network(SDN)has been developed rapidly in technology and popularized in application due to its efficiency and flexibility in network management.In multi-controller SDN architecture,the Controller Plac...Software Defined Network(SDN)has been developed rapidly in technology and popularized in application due to its efficiency and flexibility in network management.In multi-controller SDN architecture,the Controller Placement Problem(CPP)must be solved carefully as it directly affects the whole network performance.This paper proposes a Multi-objective Greedy Optimized K-means Algorithm(MGOKA)to solve this problem to optimize worst-case and average delay between switches and controllers as well as synchronization delay and load balance among controllers for Wide Area Networks(WAN).MGOKA combines the process of network partition based on the K-means algorithm with cluster fusion based on the greedy algorithm and designs a normalization strategy to convert a multi-objective into a single-objective optimization problem.The simulation results depict that in different network scales with different numbers of controllers,the relative optimization rate of our proposed algorithm compared with K-means,K-means++,and GOKA can reach up to 101.5%,109.9%,and 79.8%,respectively.Moreover,the error rate between MGOKA and the global optimal solution is always less than 4%.展开更多
High-dimensional datasets present significant challenges for classification tasks.Dimensionality reduction,a crucial aspect of data preprocessing,has gained substantial attention due to its ability to improve classifi...High-dimensional datasets present significant challenges for classification tasks.Dimensionality reduction,a crucial aspect of data preprocessing,has gained substantial attention due to its ability to improve classification per-formance.However,identifying the optimal features within high-dimensional datasets remains a computationally demanding task,necessitating the use of efficient algorithms.This paper introduces the Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm(AOA),a novel approach for finding the optimal feature subset.AOA is specifically modified to address feature selection problems based on a transfer function.Additionally,two enhancements are incorporated into the AOA algorithm to overcome limitations such as limited precision,slow convergence,and susceptibility to local optima.The first enhancement proposes a new method for selecting solutions to be improved during the search process.This method effectively improves the original algorithm’s accuracy and convergence speed.The second enhancement introduces a local search with neighborhood strategies(AOA_NBH)during the AOA exploitation phase.AOA_NBH explores the vast search space,aiding the algorithm in escaping local optima.Our results demonstrate that incorporating neighborhood methods enhances the output and achieves significant improvement over state-of-the-art methods.展开更多
This paper states a new metaheuristic based on Deterministic Finite Automata （DFA） for the multi - objective optimization of combinatorial problems. First, a new DFA named Multi - Objective Deterministic Finite Auto...This paper states a new metaheuristic based on Deterministic Finite Automata （DFA） for the multi - objective optimization of combinatorial problems. First, a new DFA named Multi - Objective Deterministic Finite Automata （MDFA） is defined. MDFA allows the representation of the feasible solutions space of combinatorial problems. Second, it is defined and implemented a metaheuritic based on MDFA theory. It is named Metaheuristic of Deterministic Swapping （MODS）. MODS is a local search strategy that works using a MDFA. Due to this, MODS never take into account unfeasible solutions. Hence, it is not necessary to verify the problem constraints for a new solution found. Lastly, MODS is tested using well know instances of the Bi-Objective Traveling Salesman Problem （TSP） from TSPLIB. Its results were compared with eight Ant Colony inspired algorithms and two Genetic algorithms taken from the specialized literature. The comparison was made using metrics such as Spacing, Generational Distance, Inverse Generational Distance and No-Dominated Generation Vectors. In every case, the MODS results on the metrics were always better and in some of those cases, the superiority was 100%.展开更多
This paper systematically reviews the latest research developments in Vehicle Routing Problems(VRP).It examines classical VRP models and their classifications across different dimensions,including load capacity,operat...This paper systematically reviews the latest research developments in Vehicle Routing Problems(VRP).It examines classical VRP models and their classifications across different dimensions,including load capacity,operational characteristics,optimization objectives,vehicle types,and time constraints.Based on literature retrieval results from the Web of Science database,the paper analyzes the current state and trends in VRP research,providing detailed explanations of VRP models and algorithms applied to various scenarios in recent years.Additionally,the article discusses limitations in existing research and provides perspectives on future development trends in VRP research.This review offers researchers in the VRP field a comprehensive overview while identifying future research directions.展开更多
The Traveling Salesman Problem(TSP)is a well-known NP-Hard problem,particularly challenging for conventional solving methods due to the curse of dimensionality in high-dimensional instances.This paper proposes a novel...The Traveling Salesman Problem(TSP)is a well-known NP-Hard problem,particularly challenging for conventional solving methods due to the curse of dimensionality in high-dimensional instances.This paper proposes a novel Double-stage Surrogate-assisted Pigeon-inspired Optimization algorithm(DOSA-PIO)to address this issue.DOSA-PIO integrates the ordering points to identify the clustering structure method for data clustering and employs a local surrogate model to assist the evolution of the Pigeon-inspired Optimization(PIO)algorithm.This combination enhances the algorithm’s ability to explore the solution space and converge to optimal solutions more effectively.Additionally,two novel approaches are introduced to extend the generalizability of continuous algorithms for solving discrete problems,enabling the adaptation of continuous optimization techniques to the discrete nature of TSP.Extensive experiments using benchmark functions and high-dimensional TSP instances demonstrate that DOSA-PIO significantly outperforms comparative algorithms in various dimensions(10D,20D,30D,50D,and 100D).The proposed algorithm provides superior solutions compared to traditional methods,highlighting its potential for solving high-dimensional TSPs.By leveraging advanced data clustering techniques and surrogate-assisted optimization,DOSA-PIO offers an effective solution for high-dimensional TSP instances,with experimental results confirming its superior performance and potential for practical applications in complex optimization problems.展开更多
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV)stands as a burgeoning electric transportation carrier,holding substantial promise for the logistics sector.A reinforcement learning framework Centralized-S Proximal Policy Optimization(C-S...Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV)stands as a burgeoning electric transportation carrier,holding substantial promise for the logistics sector.A reinforcement learning framework Centralized-S Proximal Policy Optimization(C-SPPO)based on centralized decision process and considering policy entropy(S)is proposed.The proposed framework aims to plan the best scheduling scheme with the objective of minimizing both the timeout of order requests and the flight impact of UAVs that may lead to conflicts.In this framework,the intents of matching act are generated through the observations of UAV agents,and the ultimate conflict-free matching results are output under the guidance of a centralized decision maker.Concurrently,a pre-activation operation is introduced to further enhance the cooperation among UAV agents.Simulation experiments based on real-world data from New York City are conducted.The results indicate that the proposed CSPPO outperforms the baseline algorithms in the Average Delay Time(ADT),the Maximum Delay Time(MDT),the Order Delay Rate(ODR),the Average Flight Distance(AFD),and the Flight Impact Ratio(FIR).Furthermore,the framework demonstrates scalability to scenarios of different sizes without requiring additional training.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.92365206)the support of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Certificate Number:2023M740272)+1 种基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12247168)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Certificate Number:2022TQ0036)。
文摘We introduce Quafu-Qcover,an open-source cloud-based software package developed for solving combinatorial optimization problems using quantum simulators and hardware backends.Quafu-Qcover provides a standardized and comprehensive workflow that utilizes the quantum approximate optimization algorithm(QAOA).It facilitates the automatic conversion of the original problem into a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization(QUBO)model and its corresponding Ising model,which can be subsequently transformed into a weight graph.The core of Qcover relies on a graph decomposition-based classical algorithm,which efficiently derives the optimal parameters for the shallow QAOA circuit.Quafu-Qcover incorporates a dedicated compiler capable of translating QAOA circuits into physical quantum circuits that can be executed on Quafu cloud quantum computers.Compared to a general-purpose compiler,our compiler demonstrates the ability to generate shorter circuit depths,while also exhibiting superior speed performance.Additionally,the Qcover compiler has the capability to dynamically create a library of qubits coupling substructures in real-time,utilizing the most recent calibration data from the superconducting quantum devices.This ensures that computational tasks can be assigned to connected physical qubits with the highest fidelity.The Quafu-Qcover allows us to retrieve quantum computing sampling results using a task ID at any time,enabling asynchronous processing.Moreover,it incorporates modules for results preprocessing and visualization,facilitating an intuitive display of solutions for combinatorial optimization problems.We hope that Quafu-Qcover can serve as an instructive illustration for how to explore application problems on the Quafu cloud quantum computers.
文摘This paper is basically a survey to show a number of combinatorial optimization problems arising from VLSI circuit design. Some of them including the existence problem, minimax problem, net representation, bend minimization, area minimization, placement problem, routing problem, etc. are especially discussed with new results and theoretical ideas for treating them. Finally, a number of problems for further research are mentioned.
基金The Australian Research Council(DP200101197,DP230101107).
文摘Formalizing complex processes and phenomena of a real-world problem may require a large number of variables and constraints,resulting in what is termed a large-scale optimization problem.Nowadays,such large-scale optimization problems are solved using computing machines,leading to an enormous computational time being required,which may delay deriving timely solutions.Decomposition methods,which partition a large-scale optimization problem into lower-dimensional subproblems,represent a key approach to addressing time-efficiency issues.There has been significant progress in both applied mathematics and emerging artificial intelligence approaches on this front.This work aims at providing an overview of the decomposition methods from both the mathematics and computer science points of view.We also remark on the state-of-the-art developments and recent applications of the decomposition methods,and discuss the future research and development perspectives.
文摘Most material distribution-based topology optimization methods work on a relaxed form of the optimization problem and then push the solution toward the binary limits.However,when benchmarking these methods,researchers use known solutions to only a single form of benchmark problem.This paper proposes a comparison platform for systematic benchmarking of topology optimization methods using both binary and relaxed forms.A greyness measure is implemented to evaluate how far a solution is from the desired binary form.The well-known ZhouRozvany(ZR)problem is selected as the benchmarking problem here,making use of available global solutions for both its relaxed and binary forms.The recently developed non-penalization Smooth-edged Material Distribution for Optimizing Topology(SEMDOT),well-established Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization(SIMP),and continuation methods are studied on this platform.Interestingly,in most cases,the grayscale solutions obtained by SEMDOT demonstrate better performance in dealing with the ZR problem than SIMP.The reasons are investigated and attributed to the usage of two different regularization techniques,namely,the Heaviside smooth function in SEMDOT and the power-law penalty in SIMP.More importantly,a simple-to-use benchmarking graph is proposed for evaluating newly developed topology optimization methods.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12402142,11832013 and 11572134)Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(No.2024AFB235)+1 种基金Hubei Provincial Department of Education Science and Technology Research Project(No.Q20221714)the Opening Foundation of Hubei Key Laboratory of Digital Textile Equipment(Nos.DTL2023019 and DTL2022012).
文摘Owing to their global search capabilities and gradient-free operation,metaheuristic algorithms are widely applied to a wide range of optimization problems.However,their computational demands become prohibitive when tackling high-dimensional optimization challenges.To effectively address these challenges,this study introduces cooperative metaheuristics integrating dynamic dimension reduction(DR).Building upon particle swarm optimization(PSO)and differential evolution(DE),the proposed cooperative methods C-PSO and C-DE are developed.In the proposed methods,the modified principal components analysis(PCA)is utilized to reduce the dimension of design variables,thereby decreasing computational costs.The dynamic DR strategy implements periodic execution of modified PCA after a fixed number of iterations,resulting in the important dimensions being dynamically identified.Compared with the static one,the dynamic DR strategy can achieve precise identification of important dimensions,thereby enabling accelerated convergence toward optimal solutions.Furthermore,the influence of cumulative contribution rate thresholds on optimization problems with different dimensions is investigated.Metaheuristic algorithms(PSO,DE)and cooperative metaheuristics(C-PSO,C-DE)are examined by 15 benchmark functions and two engineering design problems(speed reducer and composite pressure vessel).Comparative results demonstrate that the cooperative methods achieve significantly superior performance compared to standard methods in both solution accuracy and computational efficiency.Compared to standard metaheuristic algorithms,cooperative metaheuristics achieve a reduction in computational cost of at least 40%.The cooperative metaheuristics can be effectively used to tackle both high-dimensional unconstrained and constrained optimization problems.
文摘Real-world engineering design problems with complex objective functions under some constraints are relatively difficult problems to solve.Such design problems are widely experienced in many engineering fields,such as industry,automotive,construction,machinery,and interdisciplinary research.However,there are established optimization techniques that have shown effectiveness in addressing these types of issues.This research paper gives a comparative study of the implementation of seventeen new metaheuristic methods in order to optimize twelve distinct engineering design issues.The algorithms used in the study are listed as:transient search optimization(TSO),equilibrium optimizer(EO),grey wolf optimizer(GWO),moth-flame optimization(MFO),whale optimization algorithm(WOA),slimemould algorithm(SMA),harris hawks optimization(HHO),chimp optimization algorithm(COA),coot optimization algorithm(COOT),multi-verse optimization(MVO),arithmetic optimization algorithm(AOA),aquila optimizer(AO),sine cosine algorithm(SCA),smell agent optimization(SAO),and seagull optimization algorithm(SOA),pelican optimization algorithm(POA),and coati optimization algorithm(CA).As far as we know,there is no comparative analysis of recent and popular methods against the concrete conditions of real-world engineering problems.Hence,a remarkable research guideline is presented in the study for researchersworking in the fields of engineering and artificial intelligence,especiallywhen applying the optimization methods that have emerged recently.Future research can rely on this work for a literature search on comparisons of metaheuristic optimization methods in real-world problems under similar conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.62173258 and 61773296).
文摘Combinatorial Optimization Problems(COPs)are a class of optimization problems that are commonly encountered in industrial production and everyday life.Over the last few decades,traditional algorithms,such as exact algorithms,approximate algorithms,and heuristic algorithms,have been proposed to solve COPs.However,as COPs in the real world become more complex,traditional algorithms struggle to generate optimal solutions in a limited amount of time.Since Deep Neural Networks(DNNs)are not heavily dependent on expert knowledge and are adequately flexible for generalization to various COPs,several DNN-based algorithms have been proposed in the last ten years for solving COPs.Herein,we categorize these algorithms into four classes and provide a brief overview of their applications in real-world problems.
文摘The Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows(VRPTW)presents a significant challenge in combinatorial optimization,especially under real-world uncertainties such as variable travel times,service durations,and dynamic customer demands.These uncertainties make traditional deterministic models inadequate,often leading to suboptimal or infeasible solutions.To address these challenges,this work proposes an adaptive hybrid metaheuristic that integrates Genetic Algorithms(GA)with Local Search(LS),while incorporating stochastic uncertainty modeling through probabilistic travel times.The proposed algorithm dynamically adjusts parameters—such as mutation rate and local search probability—based on real-time search performance.This adaptivity enhances the algorithm’s ability to balance exploration and exploitation during the optimization process.Travel time uncertainties are modeled using Gaussian noise,and solution robustness is evaluated through scenario-based simulations.We test our method on a set of benchmark problems from Solomon’s instance suite,comparing its performance under deterministic and stochastic conditions.Results show that the proposed hybrid approach achieves up to a 9%reduction in expected total travel time and a 40% reduction in time window violations compared to baseline methods,including classical GA and non-adaptive hybrids.Additionally,the algorithm demonstrates strong robustness,with lower solution variance across uncertainty scenarios,and converges faster than competing approaches.These findings highlight the method’s suitability for practical logistics applications such as last-mile delivery and real-time transportation planning,where uncertainty and service-level constraints are critical.The flexibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework make it a promising candidate for deployment in dynamic,uncertainty-aware supply chain environments.
基金funded by Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit for the scientific research project of Feyza AltunbeyÖzbay,numbered MF.23.49.
文摘Artificial rabbits optimization(ARO)is a recently proposed biology-based optimization algorithm inspired by the detour foraging and random hiding behavior of rabbits in nature.However,for solving optimization problems,the ARO algorithm shows slow convergence speed and can fall into local minima.To overcome these drawbacks,this paper proposes chaotic opposition-based learning ARO(COARO),an improved version of the ARO algorithm that incorporates opposition-based learning(OBL)and chaotic local search(CLS)techniques.By adding OBL to ARO,the convergence speed of the algorithm increases and it explores the search space better.Chaotic maps in CLS provide rapid convergence by scanning the search space efficiently,since their ergodicity and non-repetitive properties.The proposed COARO algorithm has been tested using thirty-three distinct benchmark functions.The outcomes have been compared with the most recent optimization algorithms.Additionally,the COARO algorithm’s problem-solving capabilities have been evaluated using six different engineering design problems and compared with various other algorithms.This study also introduces a binary variant of the continuous COARO algorithm,named BCOARO.The performance of BCOARO was evaluated on the breast cancer dataset.The effectiveness of BCOARO has been compared with different feature selection algorithms.The proposed BCOARO outperforms alternative algorithms,according to the findings obtained for real applications in terms of accuracy performance,and fitness value.Extensive experiments show that the COARO and BCOARO algorithms achieve promising results compared to other metaheuristic algorithms.
基金supported by the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China(No.61866023).
文摘Drone logistics is a novel method of distribution that will become prevalent.The advantageous location of the logistics hub enables quicker customer deliveries and lower fuel consumption,resulting in cost savings for the company’s transportation operations.Logistics firms must discern the ideal location for establishing a logistics hub,which is challenging due to the simplicity of existing models and the intricate delivery factors.To simulate the drone logistics environment,this study presents a new mathematical model.The model not only retains the aspects of the current models,but also considers the degree of transportation difficulty from the logistics hub to the village,the capacity of drones for transportation,and the distribution of logistics hub locations.Moreover,this paper proposes an improved particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm which is a diversity-based hybrid PSO(DHPSO)algorithm to solve this model.In DHPSO,the Gaussian random walk can enhance global search in the model space,while the bubble-net attacking strategy can speed convergence.Besides,Archimedes spiral strategy is employed to overcome the local optima trap in the model and improve the exploitation of the algorithm.DHPSO maintains a balance between exploration and exploitation while better defining the distribution of logistics hub locations Numerical experiments show that the newly proposed model always achieves better locations than the current model.Comparing DHPSO with other state-of-the-art intelligent algorithms,the efficiency of the scheme can be improved by 42.58%.This means that logistics companies can reduce distribution costs and consumers can enjoy a more enjoyable shopping experience by using DHPSO’s location selection.All the results show the location of the drone logistics hub is solved by DHPSO effectively.
基金supported by the Open Project of Xiangjiang Laboratory (22XJ02003)Scientific Project of the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT)(ZK21-07, 23-ZZCX-JDZ-28)+1 种基金the National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars (62122093)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72071205)。
文摘Traditional expert-designed branching rules in branch-and-bound(B&B) are static, often failing to adapt to diverse and evolving problem instances. Crafting these rules is labor-intensive, and may not scale well with complex problems.Given the frequent need to solve varied combinatorial optimization problems, leveraging statistical learning to auto-tune B&B algorithms for specific problem classes becomes attractive. This paper proposes a graph pointer network model to learn the branch rules. Graph features, global features and historical features are designated to represent the solver state. The graph neural network processes graph features, while the pointer mechanism assimilates the global and historical features to finally determine the variable on which to branch. The model is trained to imitate the expert strong branching rule by a tailored top-k Kullback-Leibler divergence loss function. Experiments on a series of benchmark problems demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the widely used expert-designed branching rules. It also outperforms state-of-the-art machine-learning-based branch-and-bound methods in terms of solving speed and search tree size on all the test instances. In addition, the model can generalize to unseen instances and scale to larger instances.
基金supported in part by the Science and Technology Project of Yunnan Tobacco Industrial Company under Grant JB2022YL02in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province of China under Grant 242300421413in part by the Henan Province Science and Technology Research Projects under Grants 242102110334 and 242102110375.
文摘In practical engineering,multi-objective optimization often encounters situations where multiple Pareto sets(PS)in the decision space correspond to the same Pareto front(PF)in the objective space,known as Multi-Modal Multi-Objective Optimization Problems(MMOP).Locating multiple equivalent global PSs poses a significant challenge in real-world applications,especially considering the existence of local PSs.Effectively identifying and locating both global and local PSs is a major challenge.To tackle this issue,we introduce an immune-inspired reproduction strategy designed to produce more offspring in less crowded,promising regions and regulate the number of offspring in areas that have been thoroughly explored.This approach achieves a balanced trade-off between exploration and exploitation.Furthermore,we present an interval allocation strategy that adaptively assigns fitness levels to each antibody.This strategy ensures a broader survival margin for solutions in their initial stages and progressively amplifies the differences in individual fitness values as the population matures,thus fostering better population convergence.Additionally,we incorporate a multi-population mechanism that precisely manages each subpopulation through the interval allocation strategy,ensuring the preservation of both global and local PSs.Experimental results on 21 test problems,encompassing both global and local PSs,are compared with eight state-of-the-art multimodal multi-objective optimization algorithms.The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm in simultaneously identifying global Pareto sets and locally high-quality PSs.
基金support by the Open Project of Xiangjiang Laboratory(22XJ02003)the University Fundamental Research Fund(23-ZZCX-JDZ-28,ZK21-07)+5 种基金the National Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars(62122093)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(72071205)the Hunan Graduate Research Innovation Project(CX20230074)the Hunan Natural Science Foundation Regional Joint Project(2023JJ50490)the Science and Technology Project for Young and Middle-aged Talents of Hunan(2023TJZ03)the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Humnan Province(2023RC1002).
文摘Sparse large-scale multi-objective optimization problems(SLMOPs)are common in science and engineering.However,the large-scale problem represents the high dimensionality of the decision space,requiring algorithms to traverse vast expanse with limited computational resources.Furthermore,in the context of sparse,most variables in Pareto optimal solutions are zero,making it difficult for algorithms to identify non-zero variables efficiently.This paper is dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by SLMOPs.To start,we introduce innovative objective functions customized to mine maximum and minimum candidate sets.This substantial enhancement dramatically improves the efficacy of frequent pattern mining.In this way,selecting candidate sets is no longer based on the quantity of nonzero variables they contain but on a higher proportion of nonzero variables within specific dimensions.Additionally,we unveil a novel approach to association rule mining,which delves into the intricate relationships between non-zero variables.This novel methodology aids in identifying sparse distributions that can potentially expedite reductions in the objective function value.We extensively tested our algorithm across eight benchmark problems and four real-world SLMOPs.The results demonstrate that our approach achieves competitive solutions across various challenges.
文摘This work investigates a multi-product parallel disassembly line balancing problem considering multi-skilled workers.A mathematical model for the parallel disassembly line is established to achieve maximized disassembly profit and minimized workstation cycle time.Based on a product’s AND/OR graph,matrices for task-skill,worker-skill,precedence relationships,and disassembly correlations are developed.A multi-objective discrete chemical reaction optimization algorithm is designed.To enhance solution diversity,improvements are made to four reactions:decomposition,synthesis,intermolecular ineffective collision,and wall invalid collision reaction,completing the evolution of molecular individuals.The established model and improved algorithm are applied to ball pen,flashlight,washing machine,and radio combinations,respectively.Introducing a Collaborative Resource Allocation(CRA)strategy based on a Decomposition-Based Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm,the experimental results are compared with four classical algorithms:MOEA/D,MOEAD-CRA,Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅱ(NSGA-Ⅱ),and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm Ⅲ(NSGA-Ⅲ).This validates the feasibility and superiority of the proposed algorithm in parallel disassembly production lines.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62102241)。
文摘Software Defined Network(SDN)has been developed rapidly in technology and popularized in application due to its efficiency and flexibility in network management.In multi-controller SDN architecture,the Controller Placement Problem(CPP)must be solved carefully as it directly affects the whole network performance.This paper proposes a Multi-objective Greedy Optimized K-means Algorithm(MGOKA)to solve this problem to optimize worst-case and average delay between switches and controllers as well as synchronization delay and load balance among controllers for Wide Area Networks(WAN).MGOKA combines the process of network partition based on the K-means algorithm with cluster fusion based on the greedy algorithm and designs a normalization strategy to convert a multi-objective into a single-objective optimization problem.The simulation results depict that in different network scales with different numbers of controllers,the relative optimization rate of our proposed algorithm compared with K-means,K-means++,and GOKA can reach up to 101.5%,109.9%,and 79.8%,respectively.Moreover,the error rate between MGOKA and the global optimal solution is always less than 4%.
文摘High-dimensional datasets present significant challenges for classification tasks.Dimensionality reduction,a crucial aspect of data preprocessing,has gained substantial attention due to its ability to improve classification per-formance.However,identifying the optimal features within high-dimensional datasets remains a computationally demanding task,necessitating the use of efficient algorithms.This paper introduces the Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm(AOA),a novel approach for finding the optimal feature subset.AOA is specifically modified to address feature selection problems based on a transfer function.Additionally,two enhancements are incorporated into the AOA algorithm to overcome limitations such as limited precision,slow convergence,and susceptibility to local optima.The first enhancement proposes a new method for selecting solutions to be improved during the search process.This method effectively improves the original algorithm’s accuracy and convergence speed.The second enhancement introduces a local search with neighborhood strategies(AOA_NBH)during the AOA exploitation phase.AOA_NBH explores the vast search space,aiding the algorithm in escaping local optima.Our results demonstrate that incorporating neighborhood methods enhances the output and achieves significant improvement over state-of-the-art methods.
文摘This paper states a new metaheuristic based on Deterministic Finite Automata （DFA） for the multi - objective optimization of combinatorial problems. First, a new DFA named Multi - Objective Deterministic Finite Automata （MDFA） is defined. MDFA allows the representation of the feasible solutions space of combinatorial problems. Second, it is defined and implemented a metaheuritic based on MDFA theory. It is named Metaheuristic of Deterministic Swapping （MODS）. MODS is a local search strategy that works using a MDFA. Due to this, MODS never take into account unfeasible solutions. Hence, it is not necessary to verify the problem constraints for a new solution found. Lastly, MODS is tested using well know instances of the Bi-Objective Traveling Salesman Problem （TSP） from TSPLIB. Its results were compared with eight Ant Colony inspired algorithms and two Genetic algorithms taken from the specialized literature. The comparison was made using metrics such as Spacing, Generational Distance, Inverse Generational Distance and No-Dominated Generation Vectors. In every case, the MODS results on the metrics were always better and in some of those cases, the superiority was 100%.
文摘This paper systematically reviews the latest research developments in Vehicle Routing Problems(VRP).It examines classical VRP models and their classifications across different dimensions,including load capacity,operational characteristics,optimization objectives,vehicle types,and time constraints.Based on literature retrieval results from the Web of Science database,the paper analyzes the current state and trends in VRP research,providing detailed explanations of VRP models and algorithms applied to various scenarios in recent years.Additionally,the article discusses limitations in existing research and provides perspectives on future development trends in VRP research.This review offers researchers in the VRP field a comprehensive overview while identifying future research directions.
基金funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Project No.52072314,52172321,52102391)China Shenhua Energy Co.,Ltd.,Science and Technology Program(Project No.GJNY-22-7)+2 种基金China State Railway Group Co.,Ltd.Science and Technology Program(P2022×013,K2023×030)Key science and technology projects in the transportation industry of the Ministry of Transport(2022-ZD7-131)the fundamental research funds for the central universities(2682022ZTPY068).
文摘The Traveling Salesman Problem(TSP)is a well-known NP-Hard problem,particularly challenging for conventional solving methods due to the curse of dimensionality in high-dimensional instances.This paper proposes a novel Double-stage Surrogate-assisted Pigeon-inspired Optimization algorithm(DOSA-PIO)to address this issue.DOSA-PIO integrates the ordering points to identify the clustering structure method for data clustering and employs a local surrogate model to assist the evolution of the Pigeon-inspired Optimization(PIO)algorithm.This combination enhances the algorithm’s ability to explore the solution space and converge to optimal solutions more effectively.Additionally,two novel approaches are introduced to extend the generalizability of continuous algorithms for solving discrete problems,enabling the adaptation of continuous optimization techniques to the discrete nature of TSP.Extensive experiments using benchmark functions and high-dimensional TSP instances demonstrate that DOSA-PIO significantly outperforms comparative algorithms in various dimensions(10D,20D,30D,50D,and 100D).The proposed algorithm provides superior solutions compared to traditional methods,highlighting its potential for solving high-dimensional TSPs.By leveraging advanced data clustering techniques and surrogate-assisted optimization,DOSA-PIO offers an effective solution for high-dimensional TSP instances,with experimental results confirming its superior performance and potential for practical applications in complex optimization problems.
基金the support of the Chinese Special Research Project for Civil Aircraft(No.MJZ17N22)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U2133207,U2333214)+1 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2023M741687)the National Social Science Fund of China(No.22&ZD169)。
文摘Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV)stands as a burgeoning electric transportation carrier,holding substantial promise for the logistics sector.A reinforcement learning framework Centralized-S Proximal Policy Optimization(C-SPPO)based on centralized decision process and considering policy entropy(S)is proposed.The proposed framework aims to plan the best scheduling scheme with the objective of minimizing both the timeout of order requests and the flight impact of UAVs that may lead to conflicts.In this framework,the intents of matching act are generated through the observations of UAV agents,and the ultimate conflict-free matching results are output under the guidance of a centralized decision maker.Concurrently,a pre-activation operation is introduced to further enhance the cooperation among UAV agents.Simulation experiments based on real-world data from New York City are conducted.The results indicate that the proposed CSPPO outperforms the baseline algorithms in the Average Delay Time(ADT),the Maximum Delay Time(MDT),the Order Delay Rate(ODR),the Average Flight Distance(AFD),and the Flight Impact Ratio(FIR).Furthermore,the framework demonstrates scalability to scenarios of different sizes without requiring additional training.
