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First Prize in ML4VRP Competition Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO-2024), Melbourne, Australia

First Prize in ML4VRP Competition

Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO-2024), Melbourne, Australia

 

A team of B.Tech students from Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra, won the first prize in the "Machine Learning for Vehicle Routing" competition at the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO), held in Melbourne, Australia, during 14-18 July 2024. GECCO is a prestigious annual event that brings together researchers, experts, and practitioners from the fields of computer science, engineering, and applied mathematics. The conference serves as a platform for presenting cutting-edge research, innovations, and applications in evolutionary algorithms, machine learning, and optimization. It attracts leading researchers and fosters the exchange of innovative ideas, particularly in the practical applications of artificial intelligence, robotics, bioinformatics, and computational biology.

The competitions at GECCO are known for their high level of difficulty, as they challenge the limits of current research and computational techniques. These competitions are among the most challenging in the field of evolutionary computation, attracting top researchers and practitioners from around the world. The selected competition track focused on a complex optimization problem aimed at determining how to select the most efficient routes for a fleet of vehicles to deliver goods or services to various locations, while minimizing costs such as travel time, fuel, and distance, and adhering to constraints such as vehicle capacity and delivery times. This challenge is of significant relevance to industries such as logistics, transportation, and supply chain management, as optimizing vehicle routes can lead to substantial cost savings, enhanced customer service, reduced environmental impact, and improved operational efficiency.

 

The DEI team comprised Mr. Amrit Tiwari from Mechanical Engineering, Mr. Ansh Mathur and Mr. Meher Pratik Kalra from Electrical Engineering, and their supervisor Dr. V. Prem Prakash. They secured the first position in the competition, surpassing several teams from across the globe.