The Minority Report

Looks like the fags everywhere are going to be paying close attention to Johannes Schneider team at the University of Mainz.

Geeky holidaymakers wanting to take more on a trip, as well as delivery firms trying to maximise loads and storage, could benefit from a new algorithm that packs collections of differently sized 2D shapes into the smallest available space with unprecedented efficiency.Record-breaking algorithm really packs them in – tech – 06 March 2009 – New Scientist

To get closer to that optimum fit, researchers pit their algorithms against each other in competitions to solve particular packing problems, such as fitting a collection of differently sized discs inside the smallest circle possible without overlaps. Johannes Schneider’s team at the University of Mainz has just smashed all previous records in that disc-packing problem.Record-breaking algorithm really packs them in – tech – 06 March 2009 – New Scientist

Their new algorithm matched all the records for packing up to 23 different sized discs in the smallest possible circle and broke all those for packing between 26 and 50 discs – challenges set in a previous competition contested by 155 groups from 32 countries.

The secret to the team’s success is their algorithm’s ability to take backward, as well as forward steps. Packing algorithms usually shuffle the discs again and again, aiming to reduce the space they occupy each time.Record-breaking algorithm really packs them in – tech – 06 March 2009 – New Scientist