MSP 43 - Packing optimization problems in space engineering
243
Exploiting empty spaces of a partially loaded container by adding virtual items Giorgio Fasano CMath FIMA CSci Thales Alenia Space, Space Infrastructures and Transportation Str. Antica di Collegno, 253, 10146, Torino, Italy giorgio.fasano@thalesaleniaspace.com
Maria Chiara Vola Altran Italia, consultant c/o Thales Alenia Space Str. Antica di Collegno, 253, 10146, Torino, Italy mariachiara.vola@external.thalesaleniaspace.com
This work originates from a research activity recently carried out by Thales Alenia Space, in support to the International Space Station logistics. It investigates the issue of adding a number of virtual items (i.e. items not given a priori) inside partially loaded containers, in order to exploit the volume still available on-board, as much as possible. Items already accommodated are supposed to be tetris-like-shaped, while the additional virtual ones are assumed to be parallelepipeds. A mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model is introduced first, then possible linear approximations to it are discussed and a mixed-integer-linear-based (MIP) heuristic approach proposed. Guidelines for future research are pointed out and experimental insights are provided to show the eďŹƒciency of the adopted approach.