Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “fleet scheduling”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records

A Comparison of Techniques for Scheduling Fleets of Earth-Observing Satellites

Earth observing satellite (EOS) scheduling is a complex real-world domain representative of a broad class of over-subscription scheduling problems. Over-subscription problems are those where requests for a facility exceed its capacity. These problems arise in a wide variety of NASA and terrestrial domains and are .XI important class of scheduling problems because such facilities often represent large capital investments. We have run experiments comparing multiple variants of the genetic algorithm, hill climbing, simulated annealing, squeaky wheel optimization and iterated sampling on two variants of a realistically-sized model of the EOS scheduling problem. These are implemented as permutation-based methods; methods that search in the space of priority orderings of observation requests and evaluate each permutation by using it to drive a greedy scheduler. Simulated annealing performs best and random mutation operators outperform our squeaky (more intelligent) operator. Furthermore, taking smaller steps towards the end of the search improves performance.

Globus, Al↗

Scheduling of an aircraft fleet

Scheduling is the task of assigning resources to operations. When the resources are mobile vehicles, they describe routes through the served stations. To emphasize such aspect, this problem is usually referred to as the routing problem. In particular, if vehicles are aircraft and stations are airports, the problem is known as aircraft routing. This paper describes the solution to such a problem developed in OMAR (Operative Management of Aircraft Routing), a system implemented by Bull HN for Alitalia. In our approach, aircraft routing is viewed as a Constraint Satisfaction Problem. The solving strategy combines network consistency and tree search techniques.

Paltrinieri, Massimo↗

Planning and Scheduling for Fleets of Earth Observing Satellites

We address the problem of scheduling observations for a collection of earth observing satellites. This scheduling task is a difficult optimization problem, potentially involving many satellites, hundreds of requests, constraints on when and how to service each request, and resources such as instruments, recording devices, transmitters, and ground stations. High-fidelity models are required to ensure the validity of schedules; at the same time, the size and complexity of the problem makes it unlikely that systematic optimization search methods will be able to solve them in a reasonable time. This paper presents a constraint-based approach to solving the Earth Observing Satellites (EOS) scheduling problem, and proposes a stochastic heuristic search method for solving it.

Frank, Jeremy↗

Los Angeles Air Force Base Vehicle-to-Grid Demonstration (Final Project Report)

Electrification of non-tactical vehicle fleets represents a key efficiency and energy security objective for the United States Department of Defense. To achieve electrification, the department targeted vehicle-to-grid services as a way to decrease the overall cost of operating the vehicle fleet and achieve rough parity with traditional internal combustion engine vehicle fleets. This report describes efforts to aggregate a fleet of bi-directional electric vehicles and charging stations to provide regulation up and regulation down in the California Independent System Operator ancillary services market. A 29-vehicle electric vehicle demonstration fleet, consisting of mixed purpose and duty vehicles such as sedans, pickups, vans, and medium-duty trucks, was deployed at the Los Angeles Air Force base. The fleet provided frequency regulation to the California Independent System Operator’s wholesale electricity market to determine the capability of recouping some of the additional costs of procuring electric vehicles and their supporting infrastructure. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, with its partner Kisensum, LLC, developed the fleet scheduling, optimization, and control software to allow the vehicle fleet at the air force base to participate in the ancillary services markets. This report focuses on the control software and market interactions, the significant challenges faced and solutions devised to address them, and examines the potential of using the electric vehicle fleet as an energy storage resource for the base buildings, an application known as vehicle-tobuilding, in providing demand response and emergency backup power. The report discusses key findings related to providing frequency regulation to the California Independent System Operator market, electric vehicle fleet performance, compatibility of varying resource parameters of vehicle fleet aggregation, the need for automated methods for communicating hour-ahead energy bidding, challenges related to battery capacity and charge/discharge rates, and monthly settlement revenue.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Metroplex Optimization Model Expansion and Analysis: The Airline Fleet, Route, and Schedule Optimization Model (AFRS-OM)

This report describes the Airline Fleet, Route, and Schedule Optimization Model (AFRS-OM) that is designed to provide insights into airline decision-making with regards to markets served, schedule of flights on these markets, the type of aircraft assigned to each scheduled flight, load factors, airfares, and airline profits. The main inputs to the model are hedged fuel prices, airport capacity limits, and candidate markets. Embedded in the model are aircraft performance and associated cost factors, and willingness-to-pay (i.e. demand vs. airfare curves). Case studies demonstrate the application of the model for analysis of the effects of increased capacity and changes in operating costs (e.g. fuel prices). Although there are differences between airports (due to differences in the magnitude of travel demand and sensitivity to airfare), the system is more sensitive to changes in fuel prices than capacity. Further, the benefits of modernization in the form of increased capacity could be undermined by increases in hedged fuel prices

Sherry, Lance↗

Scheduling Earth Observing Fleets Using Evolutionary Algorithms: Problem Description and Approach

We describe work in progress concerning multi-instrument, multi-satellite scheduling. Most, although not all, Earth observing instruments currently in orbit are unique. In the relatively near future, however, we expect to see fleets of Earth observing spacecraft, many carrying nearly identical instruments. This presents a substantially new scheduling challenge. Inspired by successful commercial applications of evolutionary algorithms in scheduling domains, this paper presents work in progress regarding the use of evolutionary algorithms to solve a set of Earth observing related model problems. Both the model problems and the software are described. Since the larger problems will require substantial computation and evolutionary algorithms are embarrassingly parallel, we discuss our parallelization techniques using dedicated and cycle-scavenged workstations.

Globus, Al↗

Tug fleet and ground operations schedules and controls. Volume 2: part 1

This Tug Fleet and Ground Operations Schedules and Controls Study addresses both ground operational data and technical requirements that span the Tug planning phase and operations phase. A similar study covering mission operations (by others) provides the complimentary flight operations details. The two studies provide the planning data requirements, resource allocation, and control milestones for supporting the requirements of the STS program. This Tug Fleet and Ground Operations Schedules and Controls Study incorporates the basic ground operations requirements and concepts provided by previous studies with the interrelationships of the planning, IUS transition, and Tug fleet operations phases. The interrelationships of these phases were studied as a system to optimize overall program benefits and minimize operational risk factors.

Source record↗

The Fleet Application for Scheduling and Tracking (FAST) Management Website

The FAST application was designed to replace the paper and pen method of checking out and checking in GSA Vehicles at KSC. By innovating from a paper and pen based checkout system to a fully digital one, not only the resources wasted by printing the checkout forms have been reduced, but it also reduces significantly the time that users and fleet managers need to interact with the system as well as improving the record accuracy for each vehicle. The vehicle information is pulled from a centralized database server in the SPSDL. In an attempt to add a new feature to the FAST application, the author of this report (alongside the FAST developers) has been designing and developing the FAST Management Website. The GSA fleet managers had to rely on the FAST developers in order to add new vehicles, edit vehicles and previous transactions, or for generating vehicles reports. By providing an easy-to-use FAST Management Website portal, the GSA fleet managers are now able to easily move vehicles, edit records, and print reports.

Object-Oriented Programming↗

Tug fleet and ground operations schedules and controls. Volume 1: Executive summary

This study presents Tug Fleet and Ground Operations Schedules and Controls plan. This plan was developed and optimized out of a combination of individual Tug program phased subplans, special emphasis studies, contingency analyses and sensitivity analyses. The subplans cover the Tug program phases: (1) Tug operational, (2) Interim Upper Stage (IUS)/Tug fleet utilization, (3) and IUS/Tug payload integration, (4) Tug site activation, (5) IUS/Tug transition, (6) Tug acquisition. Resource requirements (facility, GSE, TSE, software, manpower, logistics) are provided in each subplan, as are appropriate Tug processing flows, active and total IUS and Tug fleet requirements, fleet management and Tug payload integration concepts, facility selection recommendations, site activation and IUS to Tug transition requirements. The impact of operational concepts on Tug acquisition is assessed and the impact of operating Tugs out of KSC and WTR is analyzed and presented showing WTR as a delta. Finally, cost estimates for fleet management and ground operations of the DDT&E and operational phases of the Tug program are given.

Source record↗

Holistic fleet optimization incorporating system design considerations

The methodology described in this article enables a type of holistic fleet optimization that simultaneously considers the composition and activity of a fleet through time as well as the design of individual systems within the fleet. Often, real-world system design optimization and fleet-level acquisition optimization are treated separately due to the prohibitive scale and complexity of each problem. Importantly, this means that fleet-level schedules are typically limited to the inclusion of predefined system configurations and are blind to a rich spectrum of system design alternatives. Similarly, system design optimization often considers a system in isolation from the fleet and is blind to numerous, complex portfolio-level considerations. In reality, these two problems are highly interconnected. To properly address this system-fleet design interdependence, we present a general method for efficiently incorporating multi-objective system design trade-off information into a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) fleet-level optimization. This work is motivated by the authors' experience with large-scale DOD acquisition portfolios. However, the methodology is general to any application where the fleet-level problem is a MILP and there exists at least one system having a design trade space in which two or more design objectives are parameters in the fleet-level MILP.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Tug fleet and ground operations schedules and controls. Volume 2: part 2, addenda

The results of a study to assess the tug safing requirements at postlanding are presented. The study considered the normal (green light) conditions from orbiter landing to completion of preparations for the next launch. Normal tug ground turnaround operations include handling and transportation activities and the performance of inspections, tests, and checkout functions. These activities dictate that hazards to ground personnel, the tug, GSE, facilities, and ecology be reduced to the lowest practical level consistent with program objectives, cost, and schedules. During flight operations, the tug contains energy sources that constitute potential hazards but are required for mission accomplishment. These potential hazards have been reduced to an acceptable level for flight operation by design features and by providing for control of energy sources.

Source record↗

Tug fleet and ground operations schedules and controls. Volume 2: Part 3, appendixes

A space tug function description data sheet is prepared for each block of the space tug functional flow diagram. A summary of the basic information regarding the activities performed in its respective functional block is provided. The sheets are catalogued by functional flow block numbers with reference blocks at the end. The specific items of information contained in each data sheet are defined.

Source record↗

Tug fleet and ground operations schedules and controls. Volume 3: Program cost estimates

Cost data for the tug DDT&E and operations phases are presented. Option 6 is the recommended option selected from seven options considered and was used as the basis for ground processing estimates. Option 6 provides for processing the tug in a factory clean environment in the low bay area of VAB with subsequent cleaning to visibly clean. The basis and results of the trade study to select Option 6 processing plan is included. Cost estimating methodology, a work breakdown structure, and a dictionary of WBS definitions is also provided.

Source record↗

DORCA 2 computer program. Volume 1: User's guide

The Dynamic Operational Requirements and Cost Analysis Program (DORCA 2) is described. The computer program provides a top level analysis tool for NASA and relies on a man machine interaction to optimize results based on external criteria. The computer program relies heavily on outside sources to provide cost information and vehicle parameters. Given data describing mission, vehicles, payloads, containers, space facilities, schedules, cost values, and costing procedures, the program computes flight schedules, cargo manifests, vehicle fleet requirements, acquisition schedules, and cost summaries. The program is designed to consider earth orbit, lunar, interplanetary, and automated satellite missions.

Wray, S. T., Jr.↗

DORCA computer program. Volume 1: User's guide

The Dynamic Operational Requirements and Cost Analysis Program (DORCA) was written to provide a top level analysis tool for NASA. DORCA relies on a man-machine interaction to optimize results based on external criteria. DORCA relies heavily on outside sources to provide cost information and vehicle performance parameters as the program does not determine these quantities but rather uses them. Given data describing missions, vehicles, payloads, containers, space facilities, schedules, cost values and costing procedures, the program computes flight schedules, cargo manifests, vehicle fleet requirements, acquisition schedules and cost summaries. The program is designed to consider the Earth Orbit, Lunar, Interplanetary and Automated Satellite Programs. A general outline of the capabilities of the program are provided.

Wray, S. T., Jr.↗

An Efficient Approach for Scheduling Imaging Tasks Across a Fleet of Satellites

Dynamically retasking satellites in response to scientific alerts is challenging because the tasks and opportunities of one satellite can influence this of another. This abstract focuses on our high-level approach for scheduling imaging tasks across a constellation of satellite, which is subject to orbital and other practical constraints such as finding a feasible up-/down- link schedule. Our approach is inspired by combining insights from two existing approaches about the structure of these problems to create an efficient, new approach. We show that our approach stacks up favorably against two baselines–an optimal solver as well as a naive, greedy approach.

Maillard, Adrien↗

Multi-stage charging and discharging of electric vehicle fleets

Fleets of electric vehicles will likely shift electricity demand, and the effect of upstream charging emissions will come from generation sources that are dispatched in response. This study proposes a multi-stage charging and discharging problem to translate low-cost energy transactions into vehicle dispatch decisions. A day-ahead charging optimization problem minimizes electricity purchases and marginal emissions damages, with energy transactions becoming targets in an optimization-based dispatch strategy for an on-demand shared autonomous electric vehicle (SAEV) fleet. The framework was tested for Austin, Texas, using an agent-based simulator. Fleets can schedule charging to lower daily power costs (averaging 15.5% or $\$0.79$/day/SAEV) while reducing health damages from generation-related pollution (2.8% or $\$0.43$/day/SAEV). Finally, fleet managers can increase profits ($\$8$ per SAEV per day) by adopting a multi-stage charging and discharging strategy that can serve more passengers per day than price-agnostic dispatch strategies.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗