Squeaky Wheel Optimization

We describe a general approach to optimization which we term `Squeaky Wheel' Optimization (SWO). In SWO, a greedy algorithm is used to construct a solution which is then analyzed to find the trouble spots, i.e., those elements, that, if improved, are likely to improve the objective function score. The results of the analysis are used to generate new priorities that determine the order in which the greedy algorithm constructs the next solution. This Construct/Analyze/Prioritize cycle continues until some limit is reached, or an acceptable solution is found. SWO can be viewed as operating on two search spaces: solutions and prioritizations. Successive solutions are only indirectly related, via the re-prioritization that results from analyzing the prior solution. Similarly, successive prioritizations are generated by constructing and analyzing solutions. This `coupled search' has some interesting properties, which we discuss. We report encouraging experimental results on two domains, scheduling problems that arise in fiber-optic cable manufacturing, and graph coloring problems. The fact that these domains are very different supports our claim that SWO is a general technique for optimization

Framework for sustainable TVET-Teacher Education Program in Malaysia Public Universities

Studies had stated that less attention was given to the education aspect, such as teaching and learning in planning for improving the TVET system. Due to the 21st Century context, the current paradigm of teaching for the TVET educators also has been reported to be fatal and need to be shifted. All these disadvantages reported hindering the country from achieving the 5th strategy in the Strategic Plan for Vocational Education Transformation to transform TVET system as a whole. Therefore, this study aims to develop a framework for sustainable TVET Teacher Education program in Malaysia. This study had adopted an Exploratory Sequential Mix-Method design, which involves a semi-structured interview (phase one) and survey method (phase two). Nine experts had involved in phase one chosen by using Purposive Sampling Technique. As in phase two, 118 TVET-TE program lecturers were selected as the survey sample chosen through random sampling method. After data analysis in phase one (thematic analysis) and phase two (Principal Component Analysis), eight domains and 22 elements have been identified for the framework for sustainable TVET-TE program in Malaysia. This framework was identified to embed the elements of 21st Century Education, thus filling the gap in this research. The research findings also indicate that the developed framework was unidimensional and valid for the development and research regarding TVET-TE program in Malaysia. Lastly, it is in the hope that this research can be a guide for the nations in producing a quality TVET teacher in the future

Evolutionary squeaky wheel optimization: a new framework for analysis

Squeaky wheel optimization (SWO) is a relatively new metaheuristic that has been shown to be effective for many real-world problems. At each iteration SWO does a complete construction of a solution starting from the empty assignment. Although the construction uses information from previous iterations, the complete rebuilding does mean that SWO is generally effective at diversification but can suffer from a relatively weak intensification. Evolutionary SWO (ESWO) is a recent extension to SWO that is designed to improve the intensification by keeping the good components of solutions and only using SWO to reconstruct other poorer components of the solution. In such algorithms a standard challenge is to understand how the various parameters affect the search process. In order to support the future study of such issues, we propose a formal framework for the analysis of ESWO. The framework is based on Markov chains, and the main novelty arises because ESWO moves through the space of partial assignments. This makes it significantly different from the analyses used in local search (such as simulated annealing) which only move through complete assignments. Generally, the exact details of ESWO will depend on various heuristics; so we focus our approach on a case of ESWO that we call ESWO-II and that has probabilistic as opposed to heuristic selection and construction operators. For ESWO-II, we study a simple problem instance and explicitly compute the stationary distribution probability over the states of the search space. We find interesting properties of the distribution. In particular, we find that the probabilities of states generally, but not always, increase with their fitness. This nonmonotonocity is quite different from the monotonicity expected in algorithms such as simulated annealing

Understanding Algorithm Performance on an Oversubscribed Scheduling Application

The best performing algorithms for a particular oversubscribed scheduling application, Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) scheduling, appear to have little in common. Yet, through careful experimentation and modeling of performance in real problem instances, we can relate characteristics of the best algorithms to characteristics of the application. In particular, we find that plateaus dominate the search spaces (thus favoring algorithms that make larger changes to solutions) and that some randomization in exploration is critical to good performance (due to the lack of gradient information on the plateaus). Based on our explanations of algorithm performance, we develop a new algorithm that combines characteristics of the best performers; the new algorithms performance is better than the previous best. We show how hypothesis driven experimentation and search modeling can both explain algorithm performance and motivate the design of a new algorithm

GIB: Imperfect Information in a Computationally Challenging Game

This paper investigates the problems arising in the construction of a program to play the game of contract bridge. These problems include both the difficulty of solving the game's perfect information variant, and techniques needed to address the fact that bridge is not, in fact, a perfect information game. GIB, the program being described, involves five separate technical advances: partition search, the practical application of Monte Carlo techniques to realistic problems, a focus on achievable sets to solve problems inherent in the Monte Carlo approach, an extension of alpha-beta pruning from total orders to arbitrary distributive lattices, and the use of squeaky wheel optimization to find approximately optimal solutions to cardplay problems. GIB is currently believed to be of approximately expert caliber, and is currently the strongest computer bridge program in the world

Multi-objective Optimization For The Dynamic Multi-Pickup and Delivery Problem with Time Windows

The PDPTW is an optimization vehicles routing problem which must meet requests for transport between suppliers and customers satisfying precedence, capacity and time constraints. We present, in this paper, a genetic algorithm for multi-objective optimization of a dynamic multi pickup and delivery problem with time windows (Dynamic m-PDPTW). We propose a brief literature review of the PDPTW, present our approach based on Pareto dominance method and lower bounds, to give a satisfying solution to the Dynamic m-PDPTW minimizing the compromise between total travel cost and total tardiness time. Computational results indicate that the proposed algorithm gives good results with a total tardiness equal to zero with a tolerable cost.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1101.339

Automatic Scheduling for a Ground Segment as a Service Platform Dedicated to Small Satellites

Together with the development of nano, micro, and small satellite missions and constellations, the necessity for efficient and tailored ground segments is raising. The peculiarities of the market together with the technological developments of the recent years have led to the idea of ground segment as a service. To meet these needs Leaf Space introduced Leaf Line. An essential part of such service consists of scheduling contact windows over the worldwide-deployed network of ground stations. This is an NP-hard problem, which is often solved with methods belonging to the class of operational research. Generally, the orbits of small satellites are very low, characterized by short-timed contact windows. This condition leads to needs way different from those associated to long-lived high-orbit satellites, which most of the literature on scheduling algorithms for telecommunication systems is focused on. Furthermore, a service dedicated to SMEs and NewSpace startups brings additional challenges linked to customer needs. These peculiarities require the development of new, tailored, scheduling algorithms. In the proposed strategy it is assumed to have no information about the state of the satellite (stored data and available energy), and that start and end of contact windows are fixed. In this work, the scheduling is treated as a highly constrained combinatorial optimization problem; various approaches are described and then compared. Such algorithms are iterative, and they all leverage the structure of the problem; specifically, many efforts are made to appropriately reduce the search space. Although optimality cannot be guaranteed, good solutions that are reasonably close to optimal can be obtained. It is found that depending on the problem settings, different algorithms can stand out as the best ones. This paper presents the work done on the scheduling library that is currently powering the Leaf Line network: this platform is offering an easy-to-use, cloud-based and high-availability ground segment service for small satellites operators