This paper describes a constrained optimization method that was inspired by the physical equivalent of a small ball that, propelled only by gravity, is dropped from an initial point inside a full-dimensional body, represented by the set of feasible solutions. The ball will eventually hit one of...

This paper describes a constrained optimization method that was inspired by the physical equivalent of a small ball that, propelled only by gravity, is dropped from an initial point inside a full-dimensional body, represented by the set of feasible solutions. The ball will eventually hit one of...

A man–machine production system (MMPS) comprising numerous operations to be processed in a definite technological sequence, is considered. The duration of each operation is random and the corresponding probability density function is pregiven. Certain operations entering the MMPS require...