Freight transportation broker agent based on constraint logic programming
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Freight transportation broker agent based on constraint logic programming Costin Bǎdicǎ1 · Florin Leon2 · Amelia Bǎdicǎ1 Received: 29 January 2018 / Accepted: 13 May 2018 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract We propose an agent-based freight brokering system that provides an intelligent logistics brokerage service focusing on the transport activity for the efficient allocation of transport resources (vehicles or trucks) to the transport applications. The freight broker has the role to coordinate transportation arrangements of transport customers with transport resource providers. In this paper we focus on the fundamental function of this business that aims to find available trucks and to define their feasible routes for transporting requested customer loads. Our main achievement is the proposal of a knowledge-based freight broker based on agents and constraint programming. We describe the multi-agent architecture and the interaction protocol of the freight broker. The brokering function is defined as a special type of vehicle routing with pickup and delivery problem. This function is achieved by proposing an optimization agent based on constraint logic programming. We present in detail our novel declarative optimization model, as well as the components of the optimization agent. This model was implemented and evaluated using the state-of-the-art ECLiPSe-CLP engine. The experimental results that we obtained for sample benchmark problems are promising and they support the effectiveness of our approach in a practical setting. Keywords Constraint logic programming · Pickup and delivery problem · Search and optimization · Intelligent agent
1 Introduction With the explosive development of the Internet and Web application platforms, entrepreneurs have identified new opportunities to grow their businesses in a global virtual environment. The majority of business services are now outsourced in the online environment that provides several attractive features including automation, easy access, global reach, just to mention a few. Logistics sector has seen no exception with respect to this state of affairs. In particular, freight providers and cargo owners are continuously seeking new transport opportunities. This venture
* Costin Bǎdicǎ [email protected] Florin Leon [email protected] Amelia Bǎdicǎ [email protected] 1
University of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
Technical University “Gheorghe Asachi” of Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania
2
triggered the emergence of the new business model of freight transportation exchanges. It aims to provide virtual logistics platforms that operate in the domain of freight transport, exploiting the opportunities provided by the requirements of goods that need to be transported, as well as of the availability of free vehicles that are able to fulfil the transport. This model includes: (1) online directories for advertising transportation opportunities, and (2) matchmaking services for facilitating the connection of the owners of goods with
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