OPTIMAL POSITIONING OF REMOTELY PILOTED FUEL BLADDERS TO SUPPORT DISTRIBUTED MARITIME OPERATIONS
Authors
Tan, Jeremy T.
Subjects
dynamic facility location
stochastic
logistics
distributed forces
remotely piloted fuel bladder
RPB
supported units
SUs
stochastic
logistics
distributed forces
remotely piloted fuel bladder
RPB
supported units
SUs
Advisors
Huang, Jefferson
Date of Issue
2020-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis research examines the problem of optimally routing a remotely piloted fuel bladder (RPB) to effectively serve distributed maritime forces. In response to changes in the global threat environment, the U.S. Navy is developing new concepts that involve distributed surface forces operating in large threat areas over prolonged periods at sea. An idea that has been identified to support increasingly distributed forces is the use of minimally manned or unmanned prepositioned bulk fuel storage systems as part of a larger fuel distribution network. While current U.S. defense maritime logistics forces can continue to be called upon to resupply surface forces, they were not designed to support distributed maritime operations. Doing so may, in turn, affect mission effectiveness and operational outcomes. The problem is modeled as a dynamic facility location problem—how to relocate the RPB over discrete-time periods relative to the locations of the distributed surface forces or supported units (SUs). A Markov decision process model is formulated and analyzed with the objective of minimizing the total cost to serve the SUs, whose movements can be stochastic in nature.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Operations Research (OR)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited
Rights
Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.