To appear in Proceedings 5th International Conference on AI Planning and Scheduling, Breckenridge, CO, April, 2000.
Mixed Initiative Resource Management:The AMC Barrel Allocator
Marcel A. Becker and Stephen F. Smith
The Robotics Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Abstract
In this paper, we describe the Barrel Allocator, a
scheduling tool developed for day-to-day allocation and management of airlift and tanker
resources at the USAF Air Mobility Command (AMC). The system utilizes
an incremental and configurable
constraint-based search framework to provide a range of automated and
semi-automated scheduling capabilities, including generating an initial
solution to the fleet assignment problem, selective
re-optimization of resource allocations to incorporate new higher priority missions
while minimizing solution change, merging of previously planned missions to reduce
non-productive flying time, and generation and synchronization of
tanker missions to satisfy air refueling requirements. In situations
where all mission requirements cannot be met, the system can generate and
compare alternative constraint relaxation options. The current version
of Barrel Allocator will go into operational use at AMC as
a module of Release 2.0 of AMC's Consolidated Air Mobility Planning System (CAMPS) in
early 2000.
Full paper in Postscript Format