Optimization of telescope scheduling - Algorithmic research and scientific policy

The use of very expensive facilities in Modern Astronomy has demonstrated the importance of automatic modes in the operation of large telescopes. As a consequence, several mathematical tools have been applied and developed to solve the (NP - hard) scheduling optimization problem: from simple heuristics to the more complex genetic algorithms or neural networks. In this work, the basic scheduling problem is translated into mathematical language and two main methods are used to solve it: neighborhood search methods and genetic algorithms; both of them are analysed. It is shown that the algorithms are sensitive to the scientific policy by means of the definition of the objective function ( F) and also by the assignment of scientific priorities to the projects. The definition of F is not trivial and requires a detailed discussion among the Astronomical Community

Simplified tabu search with random-based searches for bound constrained global optimization

This paper proposes a simplified version of the tabu search algorithm that solely uses randomly generated direction vectors in the exploration and intensification search procedures, in order to define a set of trial points while searching in the neighborhood of a given point. In the diversification procedure, points that are inside any already visited region with a relative small visited frequency may be accepted, apart from those that are outside the visited regions. The produced numerical results show the robustness of the proposed method. Its efficiency when compared to other known metaheuristics available in the literature is encouraging.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(UIDB/00013/2020); FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020, UIDB/00013/2020 and UIDP/00013/2020 of CMAT-UM

The rolling problem: overview and challenges

In the present paper we give a historical account -ranging from classical to modern results- of the problem of rolling two Riemannian manifolds one on the other, with the restrictions that they cannot instantaneously slip or spin one with respect to the other. On the way we show how this problem has profited from the development of intrinsic Riemannian geometry, from geometric control theory and sub-Riemannian geometry. We also mention how other areas -such as robotics and interpolation theory- have employed the rolling model.Comment: 20 page

Efecto de la adición de huesos de aceituna triturados en las propiedades físicas y mecánicas de ladrillos de arcilla

This study deals with the effect of ground olive stones (GOS) on the performance of fired clay bricks. Seven different clay-GOS mixes with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 wt % of GOS respectively were used for making fired brick samples. All samples were fired at 900 °C. The technological properties of the resultant material were then determined, including shrinkage, apparent density, pore size distribution, thermal conductivity, water absorption, and compressive and flexural strength. The addition of GOS to the mixture reduced the compressive strength of fired clay bricks. All clay brick pieces exhibited low firing shrinkage. It was apparent that as the percentage of GOS increased in the body, there was a noticeable increase in porosity. The water absorption coefficient decreased with increasing additions. The results indicated that thermal conductivity decreases with decrease in density and increase in porosity in fired clay bricks.En este trabajo se ha estudiado el efecto de la incorporación de huesos de aceituna triturados en las prestaciones de ladrillos de arcilla cocida. Se utilizaron siete proporciones de huesos de aceituna 0 %, 1 %, 2 %, 3 %, 4 %, 5 % y 10 % en peso. Todas las muestras se calcinaron a 900 °C y posteriormente se determinaron las propiedades resultantes, incluyendo la densidad aparente, retracción, distribución de tamaños de poro, conductividad térmica, absorción de agua y resistencias mecánicas. La adición de huesos de aceituna molidos a la mezcla redujo la resistencia a la compresión de los ladrillos de arcilla cocida. Además se observó que todas las piezas de ladrillo mostraron baja retracción tras exposición a altas temperaturas. Como era de esperar a medida que el porcentaje de huesos de aceituna molidos aumentó, la porosidad se incrementó de manera evidente. El coeficiente de absorción de agua disminuyó con el aumento del porcentaje de sustitución. Los resultados indicaron que la conductividad térmica disminuye con la disminución de la densidad y el aumento de la porosidad

Un algorithme de colonie d’abeilles artificielles optimisé pour une exploration intelligente de l’espace de recherche

International audienceno abstrac

A modified sensitivity analysis method for driving a multidimensional search in the Artificial Bee Colony algorithm

International audienceno abstrac