Multi-constraint system scheduling using dynamic and delay ant colony system

Abstract

This study presents and evaluates a modified ant colony optimization (ACO) approach for the precedence and resource-constrained multiprocessor scheduling problems. A modified ant colony system, with two designed rules, called dynamic and delay ant colony system, is proposed to solve the scheduling problems. The dynamic rule is designed to modify the latest starting time of jobs and hence the heuristic function. A delay solution generation rule in exploration of the search solution space is used to escape the local optimal solution. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed modified ant colony system algorithm provides an effective and efficient approach for solving multiprocessor system scheduling problems with precedence and resource constraints. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.