Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Optimizing Maintenance Routes For Highway Infrastructure Using Leader-Follower Autonomous Vehicles, Qing Tang, Chenxi Chen, Xianbiao Hu, Yuxin Ding, Tianjia Yang

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator (ATMA), a leader–follower style connected and automated vehicle system, enhances safety during transportation infrastructure maintenance in work zones. However, the significantly lower speed of ATMA, compared to regular vehicles, causes moving bottlenecks that reduce roadway capacity and prolong queuing, leading to further delays. Different ATMA routes lead to varying patterns of time-dependent capacity drop, affecting the user equilibrium traffic assignment and resulting in differing system costs. This study aims to optimize ATMA routing within a network to minimize the system cost associated with its slow-moving operation. To this end, a queuing-based traffic assignment approach is …

Nanostructured Cathode Catalysts For Aem Electrolysis: From Catalyst Design To Degradation And Hydrogen Dynamics, Yamini Kumaran

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) presents a promising pathway toward cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production by integrating the chemical robustness of alkaline systems with the compact, zero-gap design of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. However, the widespread implementation of AEMWE is limited by the availability of highly active and durable platinum-group-metal (PGM)-free catalysts and by an incomplete understanding of their degradation behavior under realistic operating conditions.

This dissertation focuses on the development, characterization, and mechanistic investigation of nanostructured MoNi₄–MoO₂-based electrodes for efficient and stable hydrogen generation under alkaline and membrane-integrated environments. MoNi₄–MoO₂ nanorods …

Seeing The Invisible Load: Xr+ Multimodal Sensing For Cognitive Ergonomics In Industrial Training, Jessica M. Johnson, Andwele Grant

Virginia Digital Maritime Center (VDMC) Faculty Publications

Extended reality (XR) technologies are increasingly positioned as disruptive Industry 5.0 tools for human-centric industrial training and intelligent human–system integration. Coupled with multimodal sensing (eye tracking, EEG, HRV, GSR, and other physiological signals), XR environments promise to make otherwise invisible cognitive demands observable, especially for novice trainees entering complex industrial settings. Yet the evidence base is fragmented: (1) there is no quantitative synthesis of the cognitive ergonomics benefits of XR plus sensing; (2) little is known about which XR–sensor configurations yield the strongest effects; (3) prior reviews rarely focus on industrial and manufacturing tasks; (4) multimodal signals are used predominantly …

Toward Secure And Practical Machine Learning-Based Access Control: A Framework With Real-World Constraints And Adversarial Analysis, Olusesi Balogun, Mohammad Ghasemigol, Zhipeng Cai, Daniel Takabi

School of Cybersecurity Faculty Publications

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) frameworks coordinate access requests based on subject, object, and environment attributes, as well as policy rules, and are widely used in corporate security systems. Recently, machine learning has been applied to ABAC to address policy-generation imbalances, misassigned privileges, and attribute leakages. However, existing MLBAC techniques do not consider the structural constraints and attribute interdependencies present in traditional ABAC systems. Moreover, these frameworks have not been extensively evaluated under black-box attack scenarios. To address these gaps, we propose extensions to MLBAC that integrate structural constraints, attribute dynamism, and attribute weighting into the MLBAC objective function. Additionally, we …

Distilling The Complexity Of Agent-Based Simulations Into Textual Explanations Via Large Language Models, Noé Y. Flandre, Philippe J. Giabbanelli

VMASC Publications

Communicating the design and results of agent-based models (ABMs) to subject matter experts is challenging, which hinders participation and limits trust in simulation-based decision support. Large language models (LLMs) can communicate ABMs as textual summaries, thus complementing traditional disclosure through statistical and visualization techniques. While prior work translated the structure of conceptual models into narratives via LLMs, our extension covers the dynamics of simulation models via an automated simulation-to-text method that extracts contextual information from NetLogo ABMs, performs repeated simulations, and generates narrative descriptions (including the model’s purpose, parameters, and simulation dynamics) using mutimodal LLMs. Furthermore, four summarization algorithms spanning …

Learning-Based Graph Shrinking For Quantum Optimization Of Constrained Combinatorial Problems, Monit Sharma, Hoong Chuin Lau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Graph shrinking has recently emerged as a powerful preprocessing technique for hybrid classical–quantum optimization, enabling variable and constraint reduction before quantum solving. Conventional approaches rely on Semi-Definite Programming (SDP) relaxations to compute vertex correlations, but these methods suffer from high computational overhead, instance-specific tuning, and limited generalizability. In this work, we replace the handcrafted SDP correlation stage with a reinforcement learning (RL) based correlation estimator, trained to predict merge quality directly from graph structure. We reformulate the graph shrinking process as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), design a Graph Neural Network (GNN) policy to guide vertex merging, and integrate the …

Hybrid Learning And Optimization Methods For Solving Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem, Monit Sharma, Hoong Chuin Lau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We propose a hybrid quantum–classical framework for the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (CVRP) that integrates the Augmented Lagrangian Method (ALM) with deep reinforcement learning (RL). Directly solving CVRP via Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) requires a slack-based QUBO formulation, where converting inequalities to equalities greatly increases the qubit count. To circumvent this, we employ an ALM-based reformulation that enforces constraints through Lagrange terms instead of slack variables, drastically reducing quantum resource demands. An RL agent, trained with Soft Actor–Critic, adaptively tunes the Lagrange penalties to improve convergence and feasibility. Experiments show that RL-Q-ALM outperforms static-penalty and plain VQE baselines in both …

Generative Ai And Llm Applications In Renewable Energy And Smart Grids: A Systematic Review For The Sustainable Energy Transition, Umit Cali, Ugur Halden, Merlinda Andoni, Ferhat Ozgur Catak, Si Chen, Benoit Couraud, Emre Kantar, Samuel Knapper, Ibrahim Kucukdemiral, Huseyin Kusetogullari, Murat Kuzlu, Yashar Mousavi, Sonam Norbu, Taha Selim Ustun, David Flynn

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The global energy transition toward decarbonization and digitalization requires advanced methods to manage decentralized, data-intensive cyber-physical energy systems. This systematic review analyzes 106 research studies on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) in renewable energy and smart grids, organized into seven application clusters covering forecasting, system design, operation, reliability, data and cybersecurity, and energy markets. The review situates these applications within a Cyber-Physical-Social Systems (CPSS) framework. Results show that GANs dominate current applications (47.2%), followed by LLMs (10.4%) and VAEs (9.4%), with growing adoption of diffusion and score-based models (7.5% each). Selected studies report improved probabilistic forecasting …

Adaptive Electric Vehicle Routing And Charging With Deep Reinforcement Learning, Mandana Farhang Ghahfarokhi, Hyoshin Park, Venktesh Pandey, Gyugeun Yoon

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

As electric vehicles (EVs) gain popularity, efficient routing and charging solutions remain challenging due to time-dependent travel variability, sparse charging infrastructure, and heterogeneous user preferences. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a decision-support system that integrates three complementary methods: Temporal Multimodal Multivariate Learning (TMML) for real-time characterization of travel time uncertainty, Time-Dependent Shortest Path (TDSP) for reliability-aware route choice, and Deep Q-Network (DQN) reinforcement learning for adaptive charging decisions in sparse infrastructure environments. TMML updates link-level travel time distributions in real-time through Bayesian inference with cluster-based propagation, reducing uncertainties across the network. TDSP leverages these updated distributions to estimate …

A. Vs. I In Ai: Is There A Threshold To "Engineered" Intelligence?, Joshit Mohanty

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Despite artificial intelligence reshaping the world, its development generates uncertainties regarding future capabilities. AI simultaneously exists as an artifact of engineering design and as autonomous intelligence, creating an observer-participant feedback loop. This paper proposes that embodied AI faces a bandwidth-limited intelligence threshold T_h that it arises from B = min(C_sens,C_Act). However, Shannon capacity measures bits while intelligence operates on concepts, necessitating a dual-channel model separating physical bandwidth B_io from representational capacity B_rep. Intelligence emerges as multi-dimensional rather than scalar, with components exhibiting different bandwidth dependencies. Surpassing T_h requires either new sensing methods expanding B, enhanced representational frameworks, or reconceptualization within …

Information-Theoretic Path Planning For Safe And Adaptive Nanobot Drug Delivery, Nagesh Bheesetty, John H. Park, Sujatha Alla, Winifred M. Lo, Aditya Nimmagadda, Mohamadmahdi Samandari, Jae H. Lee

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

We present a safe and efficient path planning framework for nanobot navigation in complex vascular networks, enabling precise drug delivery to hard-to-reach tumor regions such as those found in the lungs. The proposed method introduces a safe and efficient path planning strategy that integrates a utility-based function to balance two key goals: exploring uncertain areas to gather valuable information and avoiding hazardous regions to ensure safe and reliable delivery. We evaluate a simplified swarm-based nanobot navigation scenario using synthetic vascular maps that mimic the structural complexity of lung tumor blood vessels. Environmental uncertainty is modeled from vessel topology, blockage density, …

An Integrated Framework For Last-Mile Delivery Optimization Using Reinforcement Learning And Social Media-Based Traffic Prediction In Underdeveloped Megacities, Vasanth Bhat

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Supply chain management has become increasingly critical as transportation costs rise and urban delivery systems place additional pressure on already congested networks. Last-mile delivery—the movement of goods from distribution centers to end users—represents the most expensive and operationally complex segment of the logistics process, particularly in underdeveloped megacities characterized by unpredictable traffic, limited infrastructure, and sparse real-time data. This dissertation proposes an integrated framework for optimizing last-mile delivery in such environments by combining social media–based traffic intelligence, machine learning, and deep reinforcement learning. The framework leverages unstructured, real-time data from social media platforms to enhance traffic prediction and incorporates these …

Learning-Based Optimization For Collaborative Truck-Drone Routing And Scheduling, Ahmad A. Bany Abdelnabi

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Modern delivery networks increasingly rely on innovative technologies such as drones working alongside trucks to meet rising demands for fast and efficient last–mile transportation. Hybrid truck–drone delivery offers strong potential, but its effectiveness depends on careful synchronization between trucks and drones. Although drones provide fast, direct travel, their limited endurance and the need to coordinate launch and recovery with trucks create tightly coupled routing and scheduling interactions. Poor dispatch decisions can cause truck waiting, reduce parallelism, and increase mission completion time. These challenges motivate decision frameworks that explicitly model synchronization and develop scalable methods for coordinated truck–drone operations. This dissertation …

Generative Ai-Driven Optimization In Flexible And Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems, Salah Hammedi, Hicham Chaoui, Lotfi Nabli

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Flexible and Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (FRMSs) are essential for coping with variability in modern production environments; however, efficient scheduling and rapid reconfiguration remain challenging. This paper presents a hybrid optimization framework that integrates Colored Petri Net (CPN) modeling with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) to enhance scheduling performance and system adaptability. The CPN formalism ensures verifiable modeling of system dynamics, while a transformer-based generative model produces candidate scheduling and reconfiguration strategies. Simulation experiments were conducted under static, dynamic, and adaptive scenarios, including machine breakdowns and dynamic job arrivals. Performance was evaluated using makespan, mean flow time, machine utilization, and reconfiguration latency. …

Generalized Inverter Fault Detection Using Normalized Current Features And A Lightweight Bilstm Network, Mohammad Zamani Khaneghah, Mohamad Alzayed, Hicham Chaoui

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Fault detection and diagnosis of three-phase inverter-fed motor drives is essential for ensuring system reliability, safety, and continuous operation in applications such as electric vehicles and industrial automation. This paper proposes a data-driven fault detection framework based on normalized current features and a lightweight bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) network which can be generalized to different motor power rating in the same controller system. A compact set of six time-domain features, consisting of the mean and root-mean-square (RMS) values of the phase currents, is extracted and normalized with respect to the average RMS value. This normalization effectively removes dependency on …

(R2141) Analysis Of Map^I_1 , Ph^(Oa)_2 / Ph^I_1 , Ph^O_2 / 1 Retrial Inventory Queue With Two Way Communication, (S, S) Replenishment Policy, Feedback, Bernoulli Vacation And Impatient Customers, G. Ayyappan, V. Ganesan

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This work discusses about the topic as the two-way communication retrial inventory queue model, the (s, S) replenishment policy, immediate feedback, Bernoulli vacations, and impatient customers. The assumption we make is that arrivals follow a Markovian arrival process, and the server provides phase type services. When the server is idle and there is a positive inventory, an arriving customer immediately receives service. If not, arriving customers goes to orbit with infinite capacity. Only in the account of positive inventory the server renders rapid feedback for incoming call arrivals, otherwise customer departs. Outgoing calls will only be made by the server …

Dynamic Characteristic Simulation And Optimization Of Ground Test System For Airborne Launch Rack, Yuguang Bai, Sheng Zhang, Yushun Cao, Xiaoshi Zhang, Hu Huang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To solve the ground equivalent test problem of the airborne launch system, an optimization method for the dynamic characteristics of the ground launch rack test system based on a multi-variable optimization approach was proposed. Through the discussion on the boundary conditions of the foundation, an effective dynamic simulation model of the ground launch test system was established. By comparing the dynamic characteristics of the launch rack structure in the airborne state and the ground test state, the objectives and constraints of the optimization design were determined. The dynamic characteristics of the ground test system were optimized and designed. …

Scheduling Method For Virtual Power Plants Based On Analysis And Forecasting Of Heterogeneous Load Characteristics, Runzhao Zhang, Yanbo Chen, Tao Huang, Haoxin Tian, Tuben Qiang, Zhi Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To improve the electricity supply-demand situation by rationally utilizing demand response resources, a two-layer optimal scheduling model for virtual power plants (VPPs) based on the analysis and forecasting of heterogeneous load characteristics was proposed. With the differences in response characteristics of multi-type loads considered, a demand response model for multi-type loads was constructed by using a customer baseline load (CBL) curve forecasting method that integrated dynamic scenario generation and K-means++ clustering. A two-layer optimal scheduling model for VPPs that incorporated load aggregators and demand response was established. In this model, the upper layer conducted optimal scheduling targeting maximizing the …

Spatiotemporal Graph Convolution-Based Demand Forecasting And Simulation Analysis For Automotive Parts Supply Chain, Xiaobin Li, Bing Hu, Chao Yin, Bo Li, Jun Ma

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address complex automotive after-sales parts supply network operations with insufficient demand forecasting accuracy, slow response, and low service efficiency, this study proposed a spatiotemporal graph convolution-based method for automotive parts supply chain demand forecasting. Sales network data of the automotive parts sales network was constructed as a heterogeneous graph, integrating node features like parts sales volume and value to build multi-dimensional node dependencies. A node update mechanism of the graph convolutional neural network was designed, combined with long short-term memory neural networks to capture temporal features, using spatiotemporal attention to integrate temporal and spatial features into updated nodes …

Improved Pid Search Algorithm For Uav Path Planning In Mountainous Environments, Yi Peng, Yunkui Lei, Qingqing Yang, Hui Li, Jianming Wang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the challenges of UAV path planning in mountainous environments, including high computational complexity and suboptimal optimization performance, and the disadvantages of the PIDbased search algorithm, such as low optimization accuracy and slow convergence rate, this paper proposed an improved PID search algorithm (IPSA). The method introduced a good point set to ensure a more uniform population distribution, thereby enhancing population diversity and global search capability. The Q-learning algorithm was employed to adapt PID parameter adjustments, incorporating an exploration rate factor to further improve the algorithm's exploration and computational capabilities. A lens imaging opposition-based learning mechanism was also …

A Method Of Heuristic Human-Llm Collaborative Source Search, Yi Chen, Sihang Qiu, Zhengqiu Zhu, Yatai Ji, Yong Zhao, Rusheng Ju

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Traditional source search algorithms are prone to local optimization, and source search methods combining crowdsourcing and human-AI collaboration suffer from low cost-efficiency due to human intervention. In this study, we proposed a lightweight human-AI collaboration framework that utilized multi-modal large language models (MLLMs) to achieve visual-language conversion, combined chain-of-thought (CoT) reasoning to optimize decision-making, and constructed a heuristic strategy that incorporated probability distribution filtering and a balance between exploitation and exploration. The effectiveness of the framework was verified by experiments. The human-AI alignment heuristic strategy with large language model adaptation design provides a new idea to reduce manual …

Optimization Of Order Picking And Sorting Coordintion In “Goods-To-Person” System, Liang Ren, Zerong Zhou, Yunfeng Ma

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To improve the order picking and sorting collaboration with time windows in the "goods-to-person" system, a mathematical model aiming to minimize the number of sorting batches was established. With the characteristics of this issue considered, a hybrid variable neighborhood search (HVNS) algorithm based on the "classified loading" strategy was proposed for solutions. The numerical experimental results show that the HVNS algorithm can obtain high-quality solutions while shortening the solution time; different order structures have varying effects on the utilization of the loading capacity of sorting automated guided vehicles (AGVs); under the tested experimental conditions, the collaborative operation mode …

Measurement Of Luminous Intensity Distribution For Film And Television Led Light Sources And Its Simulation Research In Game Engines, Jingyi Suo, Baihong Lu, Che Qu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the issues of mismatched photometric characteristics between light sources in virtual environments and real-world lighting during film and television lighting design and lighting preview using game engines, a testing solution for measuring the luminous intensity distribution for film and television LED light sources was proposed, building upon existing luminaire light intensity distribution testing systems. Based on the obtained data, a light source calibration process was constructed in the UE5 to correctly simulate the photometric characteristics of light sources in the virtual environment. Simulation results have shown that the calibration process can accurately and efficiently reproduce the …

Research On Cooperative Interference Allocation Of Jamming Resources Based On Improved Genetic Algorithm, Zhixia Xu, Rui Wang, Nan Sun, Bing He, Xiaowei Shen, Xiaofei Zhu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the cooperative interference allocation of jamming tasks, a cooperative interference allocation method of jamming resources was proposed based on the improved genetic algorithm. In search and tracking modes of the target radar, a threat level assessment was conducted by the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) based on the entropy weight method. The factors affecting the jamming effectiveness of jammers were analyzed. A cooperative interference evaluation model of jamming effectiveness was established, and the allocation model of jamming resources was built with the total interference effectiveness of multiple jammers as the …

Research On Infrared And Visible Light Fusion Method Based On Resnet-50 And Laplacian Filtering, Xiao Wang, Xiangyang Li, Feng Liang, Zhili Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to solve the problem that existing infrared and visible light image fusion techniques often suffer from artifacts caused by insufficient contrast, spectral distortion, and high computational complexity, a fusion framework based on ResNet-50 and Laplacian filtering was proposed. ResNet-50 was used to extract shallow and deep features, followed by multi-scale feature fusion. Laplacian filtering was applied to optimize feature information, and an automatic discriminator was introduced to further improve the fusion effect. Simulation results show that, compared with comparison algorithms, the proposed method achieves an average increase of 2.71% and 2.16% in information entropy, 5.98% and …

Optimization Of Dynamic Weapon Target Assignment Considering Random Disturbances, Zhenzu Bai, Yizhi Hou, Zhangming He, Juhui Wei, Haiyin Zhou, Jiongqi Wang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The impact of various random disturbances in the actual command and control environment of unmanned systems on problem modeling and solving of weapon target assignment was considered, and three types of uncertainty disturbance constraints were investigated. A multi-objective dynamic sensor weapon target assignment model was established. By considering the issues of model property changes caused by disturbances and insufficient robustness of the traditional single-operator solving algorithm, a multi-operator constrained multi-objective evolutionary framework based on the deep Q-network was proposed. The algorithm described the convergence, diversity, and feasibility of the population in both the objective and decision spaces. It established …

Survey Of Cooperative Multi-Agent Path Finding, Jun Xiong, Wenbo Zhang, Zhi Xiong, Feng Zhou, Bo Yang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Cooperative multi-agent path finding (Co-MAPF) has been widely applied in fields such as UAV formation and multi-agent systems, which enhances the overall system efficiency through task collaboration, path planning, and task execution among multiple agents. This paper introduced three main system architectures, namely centralized, distributed, and hybrid, along with their advantages and disadvantages based on the definition of the Co-MAPF problem, categorized, and reviewed mainstream Co-MAPF algorithms, including those based on sampling, search, intelligent optimization, and learning. Furthermore, this paper analyzed the main current challenges faced by Co-MAPF algorithms on the basis of summarizing existing research and outlined the …

Interoperability Model And Application Of Military Training System For Combination Of Virtuality And Reality, Jianxing Gong, Hai Hu, Haihui Ren, Ruixiang Wu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: With the development of AI technology, VR technology, and combat simulation technology, in order to achieve the practical training effect of "how to fight and how to train soldiers", virtual and real training has become a widely popular military training mode. It has become a trend to integrate digital systems, virtual equipment, semi-physical models, physical models, and other heterogeneous systems to carry out training in the same training environment. Therefore, it is necessary to study the interoperability model and application of training systems for the combination of virtuality and reality. This paper proposed the definition of interoperability between virtuality …

Analysis Of Optimal Spectral Bands For Thermal Infrared Hyperspectral Image Reconstruction Driven By Physical Simulation Model, Yonghao Yang, Xiaoyu He

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To achieve accurate reconstruction of thermal infrared hyperspectral images under limited spectral bands, this paper proposed a reconstruction method based on physical modeling and simulation. Semi-global decomposition algorithm was adopted to invert the thermophysical properties of the scenario based on the physical model of thermal radiation, simulating and generating full-band hyperspectral data. An optimal spectral band selection strategy driven by a physical model was proposed, which integrated the sensitivity of temperature inversion and the separability of material spectra. Experiments were conducted on both simulated and measured datasets to evaluate the performance of material identification, temperature inversion, and spectral …

Research On Pac-Bayes-Based A2c Algorithm For Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning, Xiang Liu, Qiankun Jin

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address the theoretical challenges of exploration and exploitation trade-offs and uncertainty modeling in multi-objective reinforcement learning (MORL), this study developed a learning framework, MO-PAC, based on PAC-Bayes theory. By introducing a multi-objective stochastic Critic network and a dynamic preference mechanism, the framework extended the conventional A2C architecture, enabling adaptive and efficient approximation of complex Pareto fronts. Experimental results demonstrate that in multi-objective MuJoCo environments, MO-PAC outperforms baseline algorithms, achieving approximately 20% improvement in hypervolume and 60% increase in expected utility, while exhibiting superior convergence efficiency and robustness. It verifies both theoretical value and practical performance advantages in …