Sharif Digital Repository

In this paper, we study the impact of sensing error and channel fading on the decision process of a multiple secondary user network in a primary network whose channel occupancy states are modelled as a Bernoulli process. We present a randomized access strategy to maximize total secondary network throughput. The proposed method guarantees that the probability of collision between primary and secondary users in each channel is less than the predefined value of Pc = ξ. To find the optimal access strategy, we formulate secondary network throughput as an optimization problem. Then, using the KKT method to find the solution, we break the original problem into multiple sub-problems. Then, we employ... 

The control of a brachiation robot has been the primary objective of this study. A brachiating robot is a type of a mobile arm that is capable of moving from branch to branch similar to a long-armed ape. In this paper, to minimize the actuator work, Pontryagin's minimum principle was used to obtain the optimal trajectories for two different problems. The first problem considers “brachiation between fixed branches with different distance and height,” whereas the second problem deals with the “brachiating and catching of a moving target branch”. Theoretical results show that the control effort in the proposed method is reduced by 25% in comparison with the “target dynamics” method which was... 

Let LL be a reversible Markovian generator on a finite set View the MathML sourceV. Relations between the spectral decomposition of LL and subpartitions of the state space View the MathML sourceV into a given number of components which are optimal with respect to min–max or max–min Dirichlet connectivity criteria are investigated. Links are made with higher-order Cheeger inequalities and with a generic characterization of subpartitions given by the nodal domains of an eigenfunction. These considerations are applied to generators whose positive rates are supported by the edges of a discrete cycle ZNZN, to obtain a full description of their spectra and of the shapes of their eigenfunctions, as... 

Usually, resources are short in supply when earthquakes occur. In such emergency situations, disaster relief organizations must use these scarce resources efficiently to achieve the best possible emergency relief. This paper therefore proposes a multi-objective, multi-mode, multi-commodity, and multi-period stochastic model to manage the logistics of both commodities and injured people in the earthquake response. Also, a robust approach is developed and used to make sure that the distribution plan performs well under the various situations that can follow an earthquake. Afterwards, it proposes a solution methodology according to hierarchical objective functions and uses it to illustrate the... 

Scheduling sports leagues has drawn significant attention to itself in recent years, as it involves considerable revenue as well as challenging combinatorial optimization problems. A particular class of these problems is the Traveling Tournament Problem (TTP) which focuses on minimizing the total traveling distance for teams. In this paper, an efficient simulated annealing approach is presented for TTP which applies two simultaneous and disparate models for the problem in order to search the solutions space more effectively. Also, a computationally efficient modified greedy scheme is proposed for constructing a favorable initial solution for the simulated annealing algorithm. Our... 

In this paper, an algorithm based on ant colony optimization metaheuristic is proposed for finding solutions to the well-known graceful labeling problem of graphs. Despite the large number of papers published on the theory of this problem, there are few particular techniques introduced by researchers for gracefully labeling graphs. The proposed algorithm is applied to many classes of graphs, and the results obtained have proven satisfactory when compared to those of the existing methods in the literature  

The one-dimensional cutting stock problem has many applications in industries and during the past few years has been one of the centers of attention among the researchers in the field of applied operations research. In this paper, a revised version of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) technique is presented to solve this problem. This paper is a sequel to the previous ACO algorithm presented by the authors. In this algorithm, according to some probabilistic rules, artificial ants will select cutting patterns and generate a feasible solution. Computational results show the high efficiency and accuracy of the proposed algorithm for solving one- dimensional cutting stock problem  

Ant colony optimization (ACO) is a well-known metaheuristic in which a colony of artificial ants cooperate in exploring good solutions to a combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, an ACO algorithm is presented for the graph coloring problem. This ACO algorithm conforms to max-min ant system structure and exploits a local search heuristic to improve its performance. Experimental results on DIMACS test instances show improvements over existing ACO algorithms of the graph coloring problem  

In this paper, a new algorithm for solving the shortest loop design problem is presented. The shortest loop design problem is to find the shortest loop for an automated guided vehicle covering at least one edge of each department of a block layout. In this paper, first it is shown that this problem can be represented as a graph model. The properties of the presented model enable us to design a meta-heuristic based on ant colony system algorithm for solving the shortest loop design problem. Computational results show the efficiency of our algorithm in compare to the other techniques  

The one-dimensional cutting stock problem, has so many applications in lots of industrial processes and during the past few years has attracted so many researchers’ attention all over the world. In this paper a metaheuristic method based on ACO is presented to solve this problem. In this algorithm, based on designed probabilistic laws, artificial ants do select various cuts and then select the best patterns. Also because of the problem framework, effective improvements has been made to problem solving process. The results of that algorithm in sample problems, show high efficiency of the algorithm in different levels of problems  

The Facility Layout Problem (FLP) is the problem of locating each department in a long plant floor without any overlap between departments in order to minimize the material handling cost. The main purpose of this study is to show the effectiveness of a robust approach to solve FLP. In this study, it is assumed that the departments’ length and width are not predetermined. For modeling this kind of uncertainty, the size of each department is considered as a bounded variable and two new parameters are also introduced to implement a robust approach. Moreover, a new adaptive algorithm is designed to determine the robust layout with respect to the decision makers’ requirements. Furthermore, the... 

Detection of ultrashort light pulses with conventional bandlimited photodetectors can lead to substantial performance degradation in digital lightwave communication systems. All-optical nonlinear processing of the received field prior to the optical to electrical conversion can greatly overcome this problem. In this letter, through a decision-theoretic framework and using a basic invariance property of the photodetector, we obtain the optimal zero-memory nonlinear element and evaluate its performance. Possible suboptimum nonlinearities are also investigated and their performance is examined. The results in this letter strongly justify the intuitive use of power-law devices, such as those... 

Owing to wind power inherent characteristics and technical constraints of power systems operation, a considerable amount of wind energy cannot be delivered to load centers and gets curtailed. Transmission congestion together with temporal mismatch between load and available wind power can be accounted as the main reasons for this unpleasant event. This paper aims to concentrate on the wind energy curtailment for which it provides a combinatorial planning model to maximize wind power utilization. Jointly operating the wind power generation system with pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), the planning procedure tries to reach schemes with the minimum level of wind energy curtailment as well as... 

In the past decade, distribution network operators have been broadly engrossed toward automated distribution networks. The operators acknowledge network automation as an efficient investment toward a better service reliability. This paper aims to provide a new long-term cost/benefit analysis for an optimal level of distribution network automation. In the analysis, reduction in customer outage cost is considered as the benefit of implementing automation systems with capital investment, and annual operation and maintenance costs. In the Finnish regulation model, there is a special incentive based on customer outage cost reduction. As the main contribution of this paper, the impact of earth... 

This paper presents a hierarchical demand response (DR) bidding framework in the day-ahead energy markets which integrates customer DR preferences and characteristics in the ISO's market clearing process. In the proposed framework, load aggregators submit aggregated DR offers to the ISO which would centrally optimize final decisions on aggregators' DR contributions in wholesale markets. The hourly load reduction strategies include load shifting and curtailment and the use of onsite generation and energy storage systems. The ISO applies mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) to the solution of the proposed DR model in the day-ahead market clearing problem. The proposed model is implemented... 

Presence of energy hubs in the future vision of energy networks creates a great opportunity for system planners and operators to move towards more efficient systems. The role of energy hubs as the intermediate in multi-carrier energy (MCE) systems calls for a generic framework to study the new upcoming technical as well as economical effects on the system performance. In response, this paper attempts to develop a general optimization and modeling framework for coupled power flow studies on different energy infrastructures. This, as a large-scale nonlinear problem, is approached through a robust optimization technique, i.e., multi-agent genetic algorithm (MAGA). The proposed procedure... 

The integration of high-voltage direct-current (dc) transmission lines in conventional alternating-current (ac) systems would affect the indirect measurement of phasor measurement unit (PMU) devices since the concept of phasors would not correspond to dc transmission circuits. The optimal PMU placement problem in ac/dc systems subjected to the system observability is presented in this paper by applying a mixed-integer programming model. In practice, the cost of each PMU is variable as a function of PMU measurement channels. This attribute is incorporated in the proposed model as well. In addition, the number of PMU measurement channels is deemed to be technically limited; thus, the common... 

As a matter of course, the unprecedented ascending penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs), mainly harvesting renewable energies (REs), is concomitant with environmentally friendly concerns. This type of energy resources are innately uncertain and bring about more uncertainties in the power system, consequently, necessitates probabilistic analyses of the system performance. Moreover, the uncertain parameters may have a considerable level of correlation to each other, in addition to their uncertainties. The two point estimation method (2PEM) is recognized as an appropriate probabilistic method in small scale or even medium scale problems. This paper develops a new methodology for... 

The presence of different energy carriers as well as the advent of new multi-generation technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP) at homes necessitates designing an integrated model for optimal operation of such multi-carrier energy home. A residential energy hub model including a CHP and a Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is presented in this paper to show the multi-carrier energy system operation. In addition, this paper proposes an optimization-based formulation for PHEV charging control in the residential energy hub. The payment cost is minimized for the charge scheduling of PHEV through optimization of the residential energy hub operation in response to the... 

Maintenance scheduling of generating units in restructured power systems is a collaborative and interactive process between independent system operators (ISOs) and generating companies (GENCOs). The ISO should comply with GENCO maintenance preferences subject to targeted system reliability levels. This process might be multistage since the admission of all initial unit outage requests may threaten system reliability. Hence, the ISO accepts some proposals and determines alternatives for the remaining units. The GENCOs are then allowed to confirm the alternatives or revise them. In this paper the ISO problem of generating unit maintenance scheduling is tackled. The objective function is to...