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Structure As Search: Unsupervised Permutation Learning for Combinatorial Optimization

Created by
  • Haebom

Author

Yimeng Min, Carla P. Gomes

Outline

This paper proposes an unautoregressive framework for the traveling salesman problem (TSP). This framework derives solutions directly from learned permutations without explicit exploration. By applying similar transformations to Hamiltonian cycles, the model learns to approximate the permutation matrix through successive relaxations. This unsupervised learning approach achieves performance comparable to conventional heuristic algorithms, demonstrating that the inherent structure of the problem can effectively guide combinatorial optimization without requiring sequential decision-making. This study provides concrete evidence that neural networks can directly capture and utilize combinatorial structure.

Takeaways, Limitations

Takeaways:
A novel approach to finding solutions to combinatorial optimization problems, such as the traveling salesman problem, without sequential decision-making is presented.
We empirically demonstrate that neural networks can directly learn and utilize combinatorial structures.
Achieves performance comparable to existing heuristic algorithms.
Presenting the possibility of efficient computation through non-autoregressive models.
Limitations:
Further verification of the generalization performance of the proposed framework is needed.
Further research is needed on applicability and scalability to more complex combinatorial optimization problems.
Limitations of using continuous relaxation and the need to explore ways to improve it.
Further performance evaluations are needed for TSP instances with different sizes and characteristics.
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