5,592 research outputs found
Statistical mechanics of voting
Decision procedures aggregating the preferences of multiple agents can
produce cycles and hence outcomes which have been described heuristically as
`chaotic'. We make this description precise by constructing an explicit
dynamical system from the agents' preferences and a voting rule. The dynamics
form a one dimensional statistical mechanics model; this suggests the use of
the topological entropy to quantify the complexity of the system. We formulate
natural political/social questions about the expected complexity of a voting
rule and degree of cohesion/diversity among agents in terms of random matrix
models---ensembles of statistical mechanics models---and compute quantitative
answers in some representative cases.Comment: 9 pages, plain TeX, 2 PostScript figures included with epsf.tex
(ignore the under/overfull \vbox error messages
Mobile transporter path planning
The use of a genetic algorithm (GA) for solving the mobile transporter path planning problem is investigated. The mobile transporter is a traveling robotic vehicle proposed for the space station which must be able to reach any point of the structure autonomously. Elements of the genetic algorithm are explored in both a theoretical and experimental sense. Specifically, double crossover, greedy crossover, and tournament selection techniques are examined. Additionally, the use of local optimization techniques working in concert with the GA are also explored. Recent developments in genetic algorithm theory are shown to be particularly effective in a path planning problem domain, though problem areas can be cited which require more research
Loopy, Hankel, and Combinatorially Skew-Hankel Tournaments
We investigate tournaments with a specified score vector having additional
structure: loopy tournaments in which loops are allowed, Hankel tournaments
which are tournaments symmetric about the Hankel diagonal (the anti-diagonal),
and combinatorially skew-Hankel tournaments which are skew-symmetric about the
Hankel diagonal. In each case, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions
for existence, algorithms for construction, and switches which allow one to
move from any tournament of its type to any other, always staying within the
defined type
Finding an induced subdivision of a digraph
We consider the following problem for oriented graphs and digraphs: Given an
oriented graph (digraph) , does it contain an induced subdivision of a
prescribed digraph ? The complexity of this problem depends on and on
whether must be an oriented graph or is allowed to contain 2-cycles. We
give a number of examples of polynomial instances as well as several
NP-completeness proofs
Hamilton cycles in graphs and hypergraphs: an extremal perspective
As one of the most fundamental and well-known NP-complete problems, the
Hamilton cycle problem has been the subject of intensive research. Recent
developments in the area have highlighted the crucial role played by the
notions of expansion and quasi-randomness. These concepts and other recent
techniques have led to the solution of several long-standing problems in the
area. New aspects have also emerged, such as resilience, robustness and the
study of Hamilton cycles in hypergraphs. We survey these developments and
highlight open problems, with an emphasis on extremal and probabilistic
approaches.Comment: to appear in the Proceedings of the ICM 2014; due to given page
limits, this final version is slightly shorter than the previous arxiv
versio
- …