A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on Mars

In this paper, we introduce a novel variant of the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem (RRRP), which addresses the routing of energy-constrained autonomous electric rovers for Martian missions. We formulate a graphbased representation of the problem and propose an i...

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Main Authors: Burzyński Wojciech, Kaleta Mariusz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2025-09-01
Series:Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/fcds-2025-0012
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author Burzyński Wojciech
Kaleta Mariusz
author_facet Burzyński Wojciech
Kaleta Mariusz
author_sort Burzyński Wojciech
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we introduce a novel variant of the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem (RRRP), which addresses the routing of energy-constrained autonomous electric rovers for Martian missions. We formulate a graphbased representation of the problem and propose an initial formulation as a mixed-integer non-linear program (MINLP). To enhance computational efficiency, we demonstrate how the model can be linearized. The resulting mixed integer linear model is evaluated on small-scale test cases, and its computational complexity is analyzed for larger problems with up to 30 Points of Interest (PoIs). Our experiments show that the problem can be solved to optimality for problem sizes anticipated in upcoming Mars expeditions. However, for future missions involving swarms of rovers, the development of more efficient heuristic or approximation algorithms will be necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-3348c5a5c12d4048b273b377b01d05762025-08-25T06:11:49ZengSciendoFoundations of Computing and Decision Sciences2300-34052025-09-0150332534610.2478/fcds-2025-0012A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on MarsBurzyński Wojciech0Kaleta Mariusz11Warsaw University of Technology, Doctoral School, Pl. Politechniki 1, 00-661Warsaw, Poland2Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology, Nowowiejska 15/19, 00-665Warsaw, PolandIn this paper, we introduce a novel variant of the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem (RRRP), which addresses the routing of energy-constrained autonomous electric rovers for Martian missions. We formulate a graphbased representation of the problem and propose an initial formulation as a mixed-integer non-linear program (MINLP). To enhance computational efficiency, we demonstrate how the model can be linearized. The resulting mixed integer linear model is evaluated on small-scale test cases, and its computational complexity is analyzed for larger problems with up to 30 Points of Interest (PoIs). Our experiments show that the problem can be solved to optimality for problem sizes anticipated in upcoming Mars expeditions. However, for future missions involving swarms of rovers, the development of more efficient heuristic or approximation algorithms will be necessary.https://doi.org/10.2478/fcds-2025-0012task schedulingelectric vrpvrp with profitsrover routing problemmars explorationmilp
spellingShingle Burzyński Wojciech
Kaleta Mariusz
A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on Mars
Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences
task scheduling
electric vrp
vrp with profits
rover routing problem
mars exploration
milp
title A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on Mars
title_full A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on Mars
title_fullStr A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on Mars
title_full_unstemmed A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on Mars
title_short A Mixed Integer Programming Approach to the Rechargeable Rover Routing Problem on Mars
title_sort mixed integer programming approach to the rechargeable rover routing problem on mars
topic task scheduling
electric vrp
vrp with profits
rover routing problem
mars exploration
milp
url https://doi.org/10.2478/fcds-2025-0012
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AT kaletamariusz amixedintegerprogrammingapproachtotherechargeableroverroutingproblemonmars
AT burzynskiwojciech mixedintegerprogrammingapproachtotherechargeableroverroutingproblemonmars
AT kaletamariusz mixedintegerprogrammingapproachtotherechargeableroverroutingproblemonmars