Great to see this on-topic piece in this list on Space-based Solar Power Economics!When it comes to solving optimization problems that include a joint (inseparable) mix of continuous variables and discrete variables (so-called hybrid functions) it will be interesting to see which formal methodologies are used to find solutions. Continuous variables are obviously energy, distances, speed, costs, time, and so on. Discrete dimensions include parts, components, array sizes, redundancies, and cardinalities, all of which consist of integer/natural numbers that cannot always be approximated by continuous methods but require separate discrete formalisms to model with precision. Any function that includes some mix of the two is a hybrid function. An open challenge consists of the unified calculus of hybrid functions within a single analytical framework that can provide exact solutions (i.e., free of approximation errors), especially when the discrete dimensions take on small values, say, lower that 10.–––
Claudio Cioffi-Revilla, Ph.D., D.Sc.Pol.
University Professor Emeritus, George Mason University
Jefferson Science Fellow, National Academy of Sciences
Fellow, AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claudio_Cioffi
Academic page: https://socialcomplexity.gmu.edu/faculty/csc-faculty-dr-cioffi/
National Academies page: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Jefferson/PGA_046486
ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6445-9433
On Feb 7, 2023, at 6:07 PM, Keith Henson <hkeith...@gmail.com> wrote:https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fa-bold-plan-to-beam-solar-energy-down-from-space%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cccioffi%40gmu.edu%7Cb80ed424c9a6432e77a608db09611fca%7C9e857255df574c47a0c00546460380cb%7C0%7C0%7C638114084977533167%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6T6iJPeRcanRT9VQb9JYRHeDJuXHyF4E4mH9mruMx2k%3D&reserved=0
Keith
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