An Approach Based on Multi-agent and Artificial Immune Algorithm for the Vehicle Routing Problem in Home-Health Care

Abstract

In this period of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to adjust the resources found in multiple fields regarding logistical challenges to ensure the minimization of transportation costs and maximization of patient’s comforts and preferences in-home health care. In this article, we will address the vehicle routing problem with time windows, priority, synchronization and lunch break constraints, all combined with scheduling and planning. Often, patients who no longer need to stay in the hospital must give way to another urgent case, but need more treatment than they can receive at home. Caregivers are assigned to provide special care to needy patients based on their requests within time constraints such as time windows, patient preferences, precedence, and synchronization. This paper aims to optimize the planning and scheduling of home care efficiently with consideration and respect to the criterion such as qualification of caregivers, availability and preferences of the patients. To resolve this problem, an Artificial Immune Algorithm (AIS) is proposed as a generator of routes, and a multi-agent approach is established to guarantee the upmost coordination and communication among the overall actors.