A multi-objective approach for weapon selection and planning problems in dynamic environments

Abstract

This paper addresses weapon selection and planning problems (WSPPs), which can be considered as an amalgamation of project portfolio and project scheduling problems. A multi-objective optimization model is proposed for WSPPs. The objectives include net present value (NPV) and effectiveness. To obtain the Pareto optimal set, a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is presented for the problem. The basic procedure of NSGA-Ⅱ is employed. The problem-specific chromosome representation and decoding procedure, as well as genetic operators are redesigned for WSPPs. The dynamic nature of the planning environment is taken into account. Dynamic changes are modeled as the occurrences of countermeasures of specific weapon types. An adaptation process is proposed to tackle dynamic changes. Furthermore, we propose a flexibility measure to indicate a solution's ability to adapt in the presence of changes. The experimental results and analysis of a hypothetical case study are presented in this research.