An anytime tree search algorithm for the 2018 ROADEF/EURO challenge glass cutting problem

•Winner algorithm of the final phase of the 2018 ROADEF/EURO challenge.•New generic anytime tree search algorithm (Iterative Memory Bounded A*).•Combining heuristic guides, symmetry breaking, and pseudo-dominance rules.•Comprehensive study to assess components contribution.•Specialized dynamic progr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of operational research Vol. 291; no. 3; pp. 883 - 893
Main Authors: Libralesso, Luc, Fontan, Florian
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier B.V 16.06.2021
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ISSN:0377-2217, 1872-6860
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:•Winner algorithm of the final phase of the 2018 ROADEF/EURO challenge.•New generic anytime tree search algorithm (Iterative Memory Bounded A*).•Combining heuristic guides, symmetry breaking, and pseudo-dominance rules.•Comprehensive study to assess components contribution.•Specialized dynamic programming algorithm for heavily constrained instances. In this article, we present the anytime tree search algorithm we designed for the 2018 ROADEF/EURO challenge glass cutting problem proposed by the French company Saint-Gobain. The resulting program was ranked first among 64 participants. Its key components are: a new search algorithm called Iterative Memory Bounded A* (IMBA*) with guide functions, a symmetry breaking strategy, and a pseudo-dominance rule. We perform a comprehensive study of these components showing that each of them contributes to the algorithm global performances. In addition, we designed a second tree search algorithm fully based on the pseudo-dominance rule and dedicated to some of the challenge instances with strong precedence constraints. On these instances, it finds the best-known solutions very quickly.
ISSN:0377-2217
1872-6860
DOI:10.1016/j.ejor.2020.10.050