About group

Our Research

Scheduling is an optimization process that addresses how to assign the available resources (machines, human resources, the computing unit)  to specified operations (tasks, calculations) in the available time so that the resulting schedule is the best due to the selected optimization criteria.

Our team is engaged in the design and application of new algorithms for scheduling. Developed algorithms are presented at recognized international conferences and in international journals. Our main goal is to apply these algorithms in practice. In addition, we strive to give our students the latest knowledge in this field.

Purpose

TORSCHE Scheduling toolbox is used primarily for the rapid development of scheduling algorithms for the students and scientists who deal with this issue. TORSCHE is created in the Matlab environment, which is suitable for the rapid development of algorithms and provides the user with significant convenience when working with vectors, matrices, and sets. 

TORSCHE in addition extends the basic features of the Matlab graph algorithms and tools for the mathematical programming which are an integral part of scheduling.

Our Results

The algorithms proposed using TORSCHE have been applied, for example, when optimizing the speed of the calculation of the equalizer for the GSM wireless communication. Thanks to our algorithm, we've achieved a 46% acceleration compared to the original implementation on the same hardware architecture. On a different application, a filter for the active suppression of the interference signal, we have achieved 70% acceleration.

Another area in which we have achieved interesting success was production optimization. The aim was to design the production of individual orders so as to minimize the potential penalties for the delay in delivery of the contract and at the same time minimize the costs associated with storage and procurement. In this case we reached about 60 % lower storage costs and penalties compared to the original process.

Beyond that, we worked on optimizing the throughput of the SMT (Surface-Mount Technology) production line. Balancing the load of the machines on a single line, we were able to achieve a 6% acceleration in production.

Where is our TORSCHE toolbox used

TORSCHE Scheduling toolbox is used at several foreign universities (e.g. the University of Houston, Gdansk University of Technology, Hunan University). In addition, it is included on a CD with the book "Scheduling: Theory, Algorithms and Systems", authored by  Michael Pinedo, considered one of the standard books in this field.

Responsible person Ing. Mgr. Radovan Suk