The Intelligent Fleet Logistics project commenced in June 2008 and is combining operations research algorithms for vehicle routing with the flexibility of constraint programming. This research is use inspired, being driven by real-world applications of the technology to deliver systems applicable to industry requirements. Our first commercial offering is a Transportation Management System that can better model the detail of client operations than current vehicle routing systems.
The Constraint Programming Platform project commenced in April 2004 and is developing a generic platform for optimisation. The Zinc modelling language efficiently represents complex combinatorial optimisation problems and is used by us as the flexible modelling component.
What will Intelligent Fleet Logistics Achieve?
A significant portion of the freight movement in Australia is provided by road freight. Road freight operators need to cope with fluctuating demands, changing deliveries and the varied operational constraints to efficiently manage their operation. A solution for Fleet Logistics needs to both accurately model their operation and provide saving through efficient automated planning.
Our initial software product is a Transportation Management System designed to be integrated with existing client database and CRM software and configured to meet their exact transportation needs.
The key competitive advantages of our software solution are:
• The rapid configuration and modelling of the automated planning software to meet the clients business operation.
• More accurate and precise models provide a more accurate and appropriate resulting system for the client.
• The use of state-of-the-art optimisation and route planning technology derives more efficient schedules than current systems.
Who will benefit?
Fleet Logistics operators can anticipate a 15-20% saving through more efficient asset and resource utilisation. Automated planning of vehicles, crews, depots to reduce distance, time and fuel costs are key aims of our software.
Our end-users are any transportation company operating a fleet of approx. 30 or more trucks with a varied operational plan.
Key features:
Intelligent Fleet Logistics Solutions
• Operations Research Derived Routing Algorithms – vehicle routing and optimisation
• Constraint Programming Platform - technology base for complex constraint scheduling
• Precise Modelling – detailed, configurable, accurate, readily incorporates specifics
• Tackles Large and Complex Problems – through a new solver hybrid algorithm
• Immediate Tangible Benefits – saving per vehicle, crew, fuel, CO2 … real-time basis
for Automated Asset Utilisation in
• Transportation Management Systems – road, rail, shipping fleets in logistics services
• Supply Chain: Planning, Management & Execution – complex supply routes involving multiple modes of transport, processing and real-time changing demands
Progress:
The Transportation Management System is now available and will continue further development until the end of project in April 2010. This will become a first commercial product offering and we are looking for customers and financial partners to scale as a stand-alone business.
Follow-on research will extend the TMS functionality to cover more of Supply Chain Operations delivering automated solutions for distribution and storage and/or manufacturing within Supply Chain Management.
Project Leader: Dr Andrew Verden
Project Team:
Prof. Toby Walsh
Prof. Abdul Sattar
Mrs Priya Ananthram
Dr Phil Kilby
Dr Olga Kuznetsova
Dr M A Hakim Newton
Dr Duc Nghia Pham
Dr John Thornton
Dr Lanbo Zheng