Year: 2020
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Dynamic programming (DP) is a versatile technique for modeling and solving sequential optimization problems.While the approach is well known to the Operations Research community, its impact has been limited when compared to other mathematical programming techniques such as linear programming.Ironically, in part, this has been due to its flexibility.Because DP can be adapted to a myriad of problems and those models can be implemented in a variety of ways, many modelers, particulary inexperienced ones, are overwhelmed by the large number of choices.This is often referred to as the "art" of dynamic programming.Our goal was to provide a framework and base computer code for students to achieve an ease of modeling and solution for dynamic programming similar to what has been achieved for linear programming.In so far as the teaching dynamic programming, this will allow educators in operations research to focus their teaching on issues relevant to dynamic programming as opposed to computer programming issues; and allow students in operations research to focus their learning on the power of dynamic programming, as opposed to the nuances of computer implementations.
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--562
Author: Louis Plebani
Institution: Lehigh University
Language: English
Field: Decision Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2617604818