Energy efficient production scheduling algorithms (postdoc)

8 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Czech Technical University in Prague

Research Field

Computer science » Informatics
Mathematics » Algorithms

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Czech Republic

Application Deadline

30 Apr 2024 - 23:45 (Europe/Prague)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Jul 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

H2020

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The energy efficiency is rarely reflected in the scheduling problem statements, and the cost of energy has become even more relevant due to the consequences of the energy crisis. It typically adds another dimension to the scheduling problem [MOD] and/or introduces nonlinearity into the problem [BUK].

We will study state-aware resource models with time-dependent costs. The exploitation of the Time-Of-Use (TOU) tariffs to reduce the energy cost, and the use of the power-saving states to lower the energy consumption of the machines, are two crucial aspects of energy-aware scheduling. The effect of the optimization becomes much more significant when both aspects are considered jointly. The benefits of such a synergy were demonstrated in [BEN].

 

Classical scheduling models of resources are too simplistic to be used for energy optimization since their description does not capture the processing modes of the machines or system dynamics that need to be considered to achieve the actual energy savings. Therefore, we will propose and investigate the properties of discrete (e.g., state diagrams) and continuous (e.g., differential equations) state-aware resource models in the scheduling theory. Furthermore, we will investigate the jobs with time-dependent processing costs, as these naturally arise from the formulations of problems assuming TOU, and maximum consumption diagrams. We will study the effects of these extensions on the computational complexity of the problems, algorithm design, and their experimental scalability.

 

We believe that incorporating the dynamics of the machines into scheduling problems is promising area as it can significantly decrease energy consumption due to more accurate system model. We would formulate the problem using MIP or CP and solve it using general solvers or a custom exact algorithm with convex relaxations. If the performance of such algorithm will not be sufficient, we will resort to using heuristics, matheuristics or metaheuristics to solve industrial-sized problems.

 

About the group: The Industrial Informatics Department, led by Zdenek Hanzalek, is oriented towards scheduling, combinatorial optimization, and automated cars.  The group has strong collaboration with high-tech companies (Porsche Engineering Services, EATON, Skoda Auto, ST Microelectronics, CEZ, Volkswagen, PPL, …).

 

[BEN] Benedikt, O. - Modos, I. - Hanzalek, Z.: Power of Pre-Processing: Production Scheduling with Variable Energy Pricing and Power-Saving States, Constraints, Vol. 25, Iss. 3-4, Nov 2020, Pages 300–318.

[MOD] Modos, I. - Šůcha, P. - Hanzálek, Z.: Algorithms for robust production scheduling with energy consumption limits, Computers & Industrial Engineering, Vol. 112, Oct 2017, Pages 391-408

[BUK] Bukata, L. - Šůcha, P. - Hanzálek, Z. - Burget, P.: Energy Optimization of Robotic Cells, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, Vol. 13, Issue 1, Feb 2017, Pages 92-102

Requirements

Research Field

Computer science » Informatics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• Motivation to perform excellent research, become part of the world's research communities in your field, and publish in first-tier scientific conferences and journals,
• MSc degree or equivalent (awarded or to be completed soon) in informatics, operations research or a related field, 
• Proficiency in spoken/written English (knowledge of the Czech language is not required).

Specific Requirements

• Good background in scheduling, combinatorial optimization and algorithm design/implementation.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Benefits

• An initial appointment for 1 year (with an extension of up to 4 years, based on annual performance evaluation),
• Full waiver of tuition fees, 
• Net compensation of about 1,600 EUR monthly (includes salary and student stipends) plus publication bonuses; check the Numbeo database for the cost of living in Prague,
• Full social and health insurance.
• 30 days of paid annual leave.
• An informal and inclusive international working environment at the Industrial Informatics Department, CIIRC , CTU in Prague.

Selection process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications at:

https://forms.gle/Q7Rxn4R4NZFyWZuY7 [using PhD Position ID: 02-PhD-Hanzalek]

Additional comments

Research Field [Please highlight the correct option(s) in boldface font]

 

• Computer Science: "Autonomic computing" | "Computer architecture" | "Computer hardware" | "Computer systems" | "Cybernetics" | "Database management" | "Digital systems" | "Informatics" | "Modelling tools" | "Programming" | "Systems design" | "3 D modelling" |
• Engineering: "Aerospace engineering" | "Biomaterial engineering" | "Biomedical engineering" | "Chemical engineering" | "Civil engineering" | "Communication engineering" | "Computer engineering" | "Control engineering" | "Design engineering" | "Electrical engineering" | "Electronic engineering" | "Industrial engineering" | "Knowledge engineering" | "Materials engineering" | “Mechanical engineering" | "Microengineering" | "Nuclear engineering" | "Precision engineering" | "Process engineering" | "Project engineering" | "Simulation engineering" | “Sound engineering" | "Surveying" | "Systems engineering" | "Thermal engineering" |
• Technology: "Biotechnology" | "Chemical technology" | "Communication technology" | "Computer technology" | "Construction technology" | "Dating techniques" | "Electrical technology" | "Energy technology" | “Environmental technology" | "Future technology" | "Graphic techniques" | "High vacuum technology" | "Industrial technology" | "Information technology" | "Instrumentation technology" | "Interface technology" | "Internet technology" | "Knowledge technology" | "Laboratory technology" | "Marine technology" | "Materials technology" | "Measurement technology" | "Medical technology" | "Micro-technology" | "Military technology" | "Mining" | "Nanotechnology" | "Nuclear technology" | "Optronics" | "Pharmaceutical technology" | "Production technology" | "Quantum technology" | "Remote sensing" | "Safety technology" | "Sound technology" | "Space technology" | "Standardisation of technologies" | "Telecommunications technology" | "Transport technology" | "Vacuum technology" |
• Mathematics: "Combinatorial analysis" | "Computational mathematics" | "Discrete mathematics" | "Chaos theory" | "Applied Mathematics" | "Algebra" | "Algorithms" | "Geometry" | "Mathematical analysis" | "Mathematical logic" | "Number theory" | "Probability theory" | "Statistics" | 
• Physics: "Acoustics" | "Applied physics" | "Biophysics" | "Chemical physics" | "Classical mechanics" | "Computational physics" | "Condensed matter properties" | "Electromagnetism" | "Electronics" | "Mathematical physics" | "Metrology" | "Neutron physics" | "Optics" | "Quantum mechanics" | "Relativity" | "Solid state physics" | "Statics" | "Statistical physics" | "Surface physics" | "Thermodynamics" |

 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Czech Technical University in Prague

Country

Czech Republic

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://forms.gle/hj7bMTuKM4ghzPC17

Contact

State/Province

Czech Republic

City

Prague

Website

https://www.ciirc.cvut.cz/cs/roboprox/

Street

Jugoslávských partyzánů 1580/3

Postal Code

16000

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED