dhspk_ga(varargin)

Drone Parcel Delivery via Hub and Spoke: K-means and Genetic Algorithm

DHSPK_GA Finds a (near) optimal solution to the hub-spoke problem by determining the best depot locations using k-means algorithm to search for best hub (depot) locations. Once depot locations are selected, the routes from depot to each of the customers (stops) is determined using a genetic algorithm (GA). The GA routes the drone around its depot to each customer while constrained by drone range and drone delivery capacity. As such, a drone may egress from the depot out to n-customers constrained by range and capacity and then return (ingress) back to the depot. A depot may be a static platform, a truck, a barge, a ship or another aircraft. For this example, the depots remain static once determined by k-means.
Summary:
1. Each drone has the capability to deliver from its assigned depot
constrained by range (1/2 drone range for ingress
and egress)
2. For each stop, a customer is visited by a drone which is launched
from the dopot, travels to a customer stop, then returns to
the depot. A drone is constrained by range from depot and
capacity or number of parcels. A drone may deliver to n-customers
in one sortie based on drone capacity and range.
3. Entire algorithm is based on centering depots around k-means
centroids, then creating routes for the drones around these
centroids (depots) such that the distance is minimized.