Definition and Core Components of the Role-Partner Allocation Problem in Collaborative Networks

Year: 2018 Volume: 12 Issue: 1 101 - 105 Pages

• Authors:
• J. Andrade-Garda
• A. Anguera
• J. Ares-Casal
• M. Hidalgo-Lorenzo
• J.-A. Lara
• D. Lizcano
• S. Suárez-Garaboa

Abstract: In the current constantly changing economic context, collaborative networks allow partners to undertake projects that would not be possible if attempted by them individually. These projects usually involve the performance of a group of tasks (named roles) that have to be distributed among the partners. Thus, an allocation/matching problem arises that will be referred to as Role-Partner Allocation problem. In real life this situation is addressed by negotiation between partners in order to reach ad hoc agreements. Besides taking a long time and being hard work, both historical evidence and economic analysis show that such approach is not recommended. Instead, the allocation process should be automated by means of a centralized matching scheme. However, as a preliminary step to start the search for such a matching mechanism (or even the development of a new one), the problem and its core components must be specified. To this end, this paper establishes (i) the definition of the problem and its constraints, (ii) the key features of the involved elements (i.e., roles and partners); and (iii) how to create preference lists both for roles and partners. Only this way it will be possible to conduct subsequent methodological research on the solution method.     

• Keywords:
• Collaborative network
• matching
• partner
• preference list
• role.

A Simple Device for in-situ Direct Shear and Sinkage Tests

Year: 2015 Volume: 9 Issue: 3 492 - 497 Pages

• Authors:
• A. Jerves
• H. Ling
• J. Gabaldon
• M. Usoltceva
• C. Coust´e
• A. Agarwal
• R. Hurley
• J. Andrade

Abstract: This work introduces a simple device designed to perform in-situ direct shear and sinkage tests on granular materials as sand, clays, or regolith. It consists of a box nested within a larger box. Both have open bottoms, allowing them to be lowered into the material. Afterwards, two rotating plates on opposite sides of the outer box will rotate outwards in order to clear regolith on either side, providing room for the inner box to move relative to the plates and perform a shear test without the resistance of the surrounding soil. From this test, Coulomb parameters, including cohesion and internal friction angle, as well as, Bekker parameters can be inferred. This device has been designed for a laboratory setting, but with few modifications, could be put on the underside of a rover for use in a remote location. The goal behind this work is to ultimately create a compact, but accurate measuring tool to put onto a rover or any kind of exploratory vehicle to test for regolith properties of celestial bodies.

• Keywords:
• Simple shear
• friction angle
• Bekker parameters
• device
• regolith.