Mixed integer programming modeling for the satellite three-dimensional component assignment and layout optimization problem

Satellite Component Layout Optimization (SCLO) is crucial in satellite system design. This paper proposes a novel Satellite Three-Dimensional Component Assignment and Layout Optimization (3D-SCALO) problem tailored to engineering requirements, aiming to optimize satellite heat dissipation while considering constraints on static stability, 3D geometric relationships between components, and special component positions. The 3D-SCALO problem is a challenging bilevel combinatorial optimization task, involving the optimization of discrete component assignment variables in the outer layer and continuous component position variables in the inner layer, with both influencing each other. To address this issue, first, a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model is proposed, which reformulates the original bilevel problem into a single-level optimization problem, enabling the exploration of a more comprehensive optimization space while avoiding iterative nested optimization. Then, to model the 3D geometric relationships between components within the MIP framework, a linearized 3D Phi-function method is proposed, which handles non-overlapping and safety distance constraints between cuboid components in an explicit and effective way. Subsequently, the Finite-Rectangle Method (FRM) is proposed to manage 3D geometric constraints for complex-shaped components by approximating them with a finite set of cuboids, extending the applicability of the geometric modeling approach. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed MIP model are demonstrated through two numerical examples and a real-world engineering case, which confirms its suitability for complex-shaped components and real engineering applications.