An agent-based stochastic ruler approach for a stochastic knapsack problem with sequential competition
We examine a situation in which a decision-maker executes a sequence of resource allocation decisions over time, but the availability of the indivisible resources at future epochs is uncertain due to actions of competitors. We cast this problem as a specialized type of stochastic knapsack problem in...
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Published in | Computers & operations research Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 598 - 609 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
New York
Elsevier Ltd
01.03.2010
Pergamon Press Inc |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | We examine a situation in which a decision-maker executes a sequence of resource allocation decisions over time, but the availability of the indivisible resources at future epochs is uncertain due to actions of competitors. We cast this problem as a specialized type of stochastic knapsack problem in which the uncertainty of item (resource) availability is induced by competitors concurrently filling their own respective knapsacks. Utilizing a multi-period bounded multiple-choice knapsack framework, we introduce a general discrete stochastic optimization model that allows a nonlinear objective function, cardinality constraints, and a knapsack capacity constraint. Utilizing a set of greedy selection rules and agent-based modeling to simulate the competitors’ actions, we solve the problem with a stochastic ruler approach that incorporates beam search to determine item selection of the types specified by the solution representation. We illustrate the computational effectiveness of our approach on instances motivated by a sports league draft as well as generic problem instances based on the knapsack literature. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0305-0548 1873-765X 0305-0548 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.cor.2009.02.028 |