At UPS, the Algorithm Is the Driver

[Returntosender]

TIMONIUM, Md.—Here’s a math problem for you. Each United Parcel Service Inc. driver makes an average of 120 stops per day. There are 6,689,502,913,449,135,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 alternatives for ordering those stops. Which option is the most efficient, after considering variables such as special delivery times, road regulations, and the existence of private roads that don’t appear on a map?

UPS engineers are already enhancing Orion so it will update delivery schedules while drivers are on the road, useful in a situation in which a driver might abandon Orion’s instructions because of an unexpected road closure due to an accident, but want to resume using Orion later in the day. Upcoming versions also will include turn-by-turn driving instructions—not yet part of the system.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/at-ups-the-algorithm-is-the-driver-1424136536

 

[scratch]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

 

[Johney]

Well alrighty then.

 

[oldngray]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

That is compared to where an experienced driver could immediately discard 99.9% of the possibilities leaving so few options you could count them on one hand.

 

[Brownslave688]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

And maybe 2-3 that make any damn sense.

This is the problem. My brain doesn't see the billions of options and decide between them. It's sees the handful that make a shred of sense and decides between them.

 

[Brownslave688]

That is compared to where an experienced driver could immediately discard 99.9% of the possibilities leaving so few options you could count them on one hand.

Great minds.

 

[upschuck]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

3,628,800 to be exact, and I bet they pick the solution in the lower half on how to run it.

 

[Johney]

That is compared to where an experienced driver could immediately discard 99.9% of the possibilities leaving so few options you could count them on one hand.

Of course, but that's where it becomes a problem. What you know is the best option is in the bottom 10% of Orion decisions and will generate a bad report for you.

 

[Catatonic]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

Maybe 3 for a human.
Artificial Intelligence will have to mature quite a bit before the residential or rural driver can be approached by ORION.

 

[Catatonic]

That is compared to where an experienced driver could immediately discard 99.9% of the possibilities leaving so few options you could count them on one hand.

or 99.995% or more

 

[gman042]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

No, there really isn't. There is only one way. The way a driver delivered it using his area knowledge and common sense.

 

[TooTechie]

3,628,800 to be exact, and I bet they pick the solution in the lower half on how to run it.

Wouldn't it be 100? 10 squared?

 

[Brownslave688]

Wouldn't it be 100? 10 squared?

No

10x9x8x7x6x5x4x3x2=

 

[onehandsolo]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

That's the same thing they told us a year ago when my center started it. Overall Orion works on about half of the routes, but it still has a lot of bugs on those routes and does not give you enough time to deliver most stops. I cannot remember the last time a sup a broached me about not meeting my Orion numbers.

 

[novadriver]

pass by 20 stops to do one stop than drive past another 10 to do the 20 you drove by earlier to.... you get the picture. ODO time

 

[BigUnionGuy]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

Hi

I am Orion.... and just here to help.



-Bug-

 

[Overpaid Union Thug]

We are about to go on ORION and one of the team members said that if you look at ten different delivery addresses, there are over a million different combinations as to what order you could run them.

Maybe that's the problem.They are over thinking the job. And paying (wasting) allot of money in doing it.

 

[jaker]

Orion wouldn't be bad if they could figure out how to make it see high low odd even

 

[FrigidAdCorrector]

Orion has potential to be a really good system. It just isn't quite there yet. They need to program it to save time AND miles for it to save any real money. Saving 5 miles a route everyday is good. But who cares if you are paying a top rate driver an hour of overtime to save those 5 miles. You're canceling any gains you may have made saving those miles and then some.

 

[clean hairy]

In the beginning of the video it mentions improving the bottom line.
They forget to mention it improves the bottm line of the drivers checks from the increased hours.
Also not mentioned, is during peak season it works so well it is not used.

Hi

I am Orion.... and just here to help.



-Bug-