Optimal scheduling for replacing perimeter guarding unmanned aerial vehicles

Guarding the perimeter of an area in order to detect potential intruders is an important task in a variety of security-related applications. This task can in many circumstances be performed by a set of camera-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Such UAVs will occasionally require refueling or recharging, in which case they must temporarily be replaced … Read more

An inertial forward-backward algorithm for the minimization of the sum of two nonconvex functions

We propose a forward-backward proximal-type algorithm with inertial/memory effects for minimizing the sum of a nonsmooth function with a smooth one in the nonconvex setting. The sequence of iterates generated by the algorithm converges to a critical point of the objective function provided an appropriate regularization of the objective satisfies the Kurdyka-Lojasiewicz inequality, which is … Read more

Sufficient weighted complementarity problems

This paper presents some fundamental results about sufficient linear weighted complementarity problems. Such a problem depends on a nonnegative weight vector. If the weight vector is zero, the problem reduces to a sufficient linear complementarity problem that has been extensively studied. The introduction of the more general notion of a weighted complementarity problem (wCP) was … Read more

Weak and Strong Superiorization: Between Feasibility-Seeking and Minimization

We review the superiorization methodology, which can be thought of, in some cases, as lying between feasibility-seeking and constrained minimization. It is not quite trying to solve the full fledged constrained minimization problem; rather, the task is to find a feasible point which is superior (with respect to an objective function value) to one returned … Read more

Douglas-Rachford splitting for nonconvex feasibility problems

We adapt the Douglas-Rachford (DR) splitting method to solve nonconvex feasibility problems by studying this method for a class of nonconvex optimization problem. While the convergence properties of the method for convex problems have been well studied, far less is known in the nonconvex setting. In this paper, for the direct adaptation of the method … Read more

Solving bilevel combinatorial optimization as bilinear min-max optimization via a branch-and-cut algorithm

In this paper, we propose a generic branch-and -cut algorithm for a special class of bi-level combinatorial optimization problems. Namely, we study such problems that can be reformulated as bilinear min-max combinatorial optimization problems. We show that the reformulation can be efficiently solved by a branch-and-cut algorithm whose cuts represent the inner maximization feasibility set. … Read more

Planar Maximum Coverage Location Problem with Partial Coverage and Rectangular Demand and Service Zones

We study the planar maximum coverage location problem (MCLP) with rectilinear distance and rectangular demand zones in the case where “partial coverage” is allowed in its true sense, i.e., when covering only part of a demand zone is allowed and the coverage accrued as a result of this is proportional to the demand of the … Read more

Randomized First-order Methods for Saddle Point Optimization

In this paper, we present novel randomized algorithms for solving saddle point problems whose dual feasible region is a direct product of many convex sets. Our algorithms can achieve ${\cal O}(1/N)$ rate of convergence by solving only one dual subproblem at each iteration. Our algorithms can also achieve ${\cal O}(1/N^2)$ rate of convergence if a … Read more

The Descriptor Continuous-Time Algebraic Riccati Equation. Numerical Solutions and Some Direct Applications

We investigate here the numerical solution of a special type of descriptor continuous-time Riccati equation which is involved in solving several key problems in robust control, formulated under very general hypotheses. We also give necessary and sufficient existence conditions together with computable formulas for both stabilizing and antistabilizing solutions in terms of the associated matrix … Read more

Adaptive Robust Optimization with Dynamic Uncertainty Sets for Multi-Period Economic Dispatch under Significant Wind

The exceptional benefits of wind power as an environmentally responsible renewable energy resource have led to an increasing penetration of wind energy in today’s power systems. This trend has started to reshape the paradigms of power system operations, as dealing with uncertainty caused by the highly intermittent and uncertain wind power becomes a significant issue. … Read more