ITR/AP: Auction Mechanisms for Complex Resource Allocation Problems

在这项信息技术研究(ITR)研究项目中，将研究如何设计和使用拍卖机制，以便在复杂环境中分配稀缺资源。这项研究包括四个具体目标：(1)设计和开发合适的竞价环境，(2)在明确定义的竞价环境下确定参与者的竞价策略，(3)发展对各种竞标环境下计算复杂性和解的“好”之间的权衡的理解，以及(4)开发用于教授拍卖理论和实践的教育程序和教育工具。在利用竞价机制的广泛环境中，将重点关注四个重要的应用，涉及竞标环境中可能出现的一系列问题：(1)电子商务中的简单多单位拍卖，(2)工业采购中的组合拍卖，(3)不确定环境中多个机器人的协调和控制，以及(4)远洋承运人物流网络上的任务分配。本质上，拍卖是一种机制，一组参与者通过该机制交流信息，以产生一组分配。参与者传递的信息称为出价。拍卖设计者努力设计一种具有理想特征、适合手头情况的机制。拍卖特别有利于具有以下两个特点的环境：(1)缺乏关于参与者的完整信息；(2)由于其高度的计算复杂性而无法集中解决的问题。虽然拍卖的使用已经在众多的市场环境中得到了应用，但拍卖理论的研究却严重滞后。文献中几乎没有指导投标人如何“最佳”出价或帮助拍卖人评估各种拍卖形式的表现。即使是拍卖顾问也会承认，他们的很多建议都是基于逻辑和过去的经验，而不是植根于分析结果。本研究的目标是通过提高在复杂环境下稀缺资源配置拍卖机制设计中的知识状态来弥合实践与理论之间的差距。这项研究的成功完成将扩大对多单位拍卖作为交易媒介的理解和使用，并提高这类交易的效力。由于研究人员将与IBM、家得宝、施耐德物流和东方海外集装箱航运(OOCL)等行业合作伙伴密切合作，因此研究将集中在现实应用上。它还将在案例研究开发、新课程设置和课堂竞价游戏的开发方面产生重大的教育影响。

In this Information Technology Research (ITR) research project, a study of the design and use of auction mechanisms for the allocation of scarce resources in complex settings will be performed. The research includes four specific goals: (1) the design and development of appropriate bidding environments, (2) the identification of participants bidding strategies under well defined bidding environments, (3) the development of an understanding of the tradeoffs between computational complexity and "goodness" of solution under various bidding environments, and (4) the development of an educational program and educational tools for teaching the theory and practice of auctions. Amid the wide range of settings where bidding mechanisms are utilized, attention will be focused on four important applications spanning the range of issues that can arise in a bidding environment: (1) simple multi-unit auctions in e-commerce, (2) combinatorial auctions in industrial procurement, (3) coordination and control of multiple robots in uncertain environments, and (4) task allocation on a logistics network for ocean carriers. In essence, an auction is a mechanism by which a set of participants communicates information so as to result in a set of allocations taking place. Information that is communicated by a participant is called a bid. The auction designer strives to design a mechanism that has desirable characteristics, appropriate for the situation at hand. Auctions can particularly benefit environments with the following two characteristics: (1) the absence of complete information about the participants and (2) problems which cannot be solved centrally due to their high computational complexity. While the use of auctions has been applied in numerous market settings, the research in auction theory has severely lagged behind. There is little in the literature to guide bidders on how to "optimally" bid or to aid auctioneers in evaluating the performance of various auction formats. Even the auction consultants will admit that much of their advice is based on logic and past experiences, rather than rooted in analytical findings. It is the goal of this research to close the gap between practice and theory by advancing the state of the knowledge in the design of auction mechanisms for the allocation of scarce resources in complex settings. The successful completion of this research will broaden the understanding and use of multi-unit auctions as a transaction medium and increase the efficacy of such transactions. Since the researchers will be working closely with industry partners including IBM, Home Depot, Schneider Logistics, and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), the research will be focused on realistic applications. There will also be a significant educational impact in terms of case study development, new course offerings, and the development of classroom bidding games.