FlexMan: A New Adaptive Scheduling and Optimization Library Released

We are thrilled to announce the release of FlexMan, a new adaptive scheduling and optimization library developed as part of the STRATEGUS project. FlexMan is designed to solve continuous-time scheduling problems by finding optimal sequences of modes to achieve target states efficiently. This powerful, modular library offers a wide range of features to support applications in industrial environments and beyond.

Key Features

• Generalized Scheduling: Solve continuous-time scheduling problems by evolving systems toward desired target states.
• Resource Tracking: Monitor and optimize multi-dimensional metrics such as energy and time.
• Simulation Managers: Seamlessly handle discrete and continuous system evolution.
• Pareto Optimization: Evaluate trade-offs between performance metrics.
• Post-Search Optimization: Refine results using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO).
• Custom Search Strategies: Perform exhaustive searches or use heuristics for faster, approximate solutions.
• Flexibility and Modularity: Easily adapt to other use cases and systems.

Example Application: Industrial Tapping Machine

FlexMan has been successfully applied to simulate and optimize the operations of an industrial tapping machine. The example demonstrates:

• Discrete and continuous search managers for system simulation.
• Multi-dimensional resource tracking (e.g., energy and time).
• Post-search optimization using PSO to achieve optimal performance.

How to Get Started

FlexMan is header-only and can be easily integrated into your projects. It uses CMake to manage dependencies, making setup straightforward.

Installation

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/STRATEGUS-HE2022/flexman.git
cd flexman

Build the project:

mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
make

Example Usage

Run the provided example for the industrial tapping machine:

./flexman_tapping --run 0 --mode 0 --algorithm 0 --pso --output output.json --plot

This command performs a search, applies PSO optimization, and generates results for visualization.

Source Code and Documentation

FlexMan’s code and detailed documentation are available on GitHub:

• Repository: FlexMan on GitHub

The repository contains a comprehensive README file, examples, and instructions to help you get started quickly.

Acknowledgments

FlexMan was developed as part of the STRATEGUS project, funded under the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions program. Special thanks to our collaborators and contributors for their support and inspiration.

Stay tuned for updates and further developments as FlexMan evolves. We look forward to hearing about your use cases and contributions!