Packing ellipsoids by nonlinear optimization

Abstract

In this paper, continuous and differentiable nonlinear programming models and algorithms for packing ellipsoids in the n-dimensional space are introduced. Two different models for the non-overlapping and models for the inclusion of ellipsoids within half-spaces and ellipsoids are presented. By applying a simple multi-start strategy combined with a clever choice of starting guesses and a nonlinear programming local solver, illustrative numerical experiments are presented.