Abstract
A delivery route optimization that improves the efficiency of real time delivery or a distribution network requires solving several tens to hundreds but less than 2 thousands cities Traveling Salesman Problems (TSP) within interactive response time (less than about 3 second), with expert-level accuracy (less than about 3% of error rate). Further, to make things more difficult, the optimization is subjects to special requirements or preferences of each various delivery sites, persons, or societies. To meet these requirements, an Inner Random Restart Genetic Algorithm (Irr-GA) is proposed and developed. This method combines meta-heuristics such as random restart and GA having different types of simple heuristics. Such simple heuristics are 2-opt and NI (Nearest Insertion) methods, each applied for gene operations. The proposed method is hierarchical structured, integrating meta-heuristics and heuristics both of which are multiple but simple. This method is elaborated so that field experts as well as field engineers can easily understand to make the solution or method easily customized and extended according to customers' needs or taste. Comparison based on the experimental results and consideration proved that the method meets the above requirements more than other methods judging from not only optimality but also simplicity, flexibility, and expandability in order for this method to be practically used.
