Collaborative optimization of rescue base cluster-deployment and heterogeneous unmanned surface vehicle configuration for efficiency balance


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Journal of Dalian Maritime University ›› 2026, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (1) : 99-110.

Collaborative optimization of rescue base cluster-deployment and heterogeneous unmanned surface vehicle configuration for efficiency balance

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HAN Lichang¹, ZHAO Ruijia^*1, YANG Qiuping²

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Abstract

To reduce the reliance of highly procedural and highrisk maritime search and rescue (SAR) tasks on traditional manual rescue modes and improve China’s maritime SAR response efficiency, this paper proposed a collaborative optimization method for rescue base cluster deployment and heterogeneous unmanned surface vehicle (USV) configuration considering efficiency balance. This method accounted for both the timeliness of maritime response and the distribution characteristics of risk levels, established a rescue efficiency evaluation model, and was applied to quantitatively analyze the comprehensive performance of base cluster deployment and USV configuration schemes. On this basis, with the objective of maximizing the overall rescue efficiency of the responsible sea area, a collaborative optimization model was established by comprehensively considering practical constraints such as investment budget limits, endurance capacity of USVs, and communication coverage radius. Furthermore, an exact solution algorithm based on linear transformation was designed to achieve efficient solving of the optimal configuration scheme under complex constraints. The algorithm verification results show that when the side length of the sea area unit exceeds 1.5 km, the algorithm can obtain an exact solution within ten minutes, and the calculation accuracy improves with grid refinement, which can more accurately reflect the characteristics of the actual marine environment. The case study further demonstrates that optimizing the collaborative scheme of rescue base cluster deployment and heterogeneous USV configuration can effectively alleviate the unbalanced spatial distribution of maritime rescue efficiency. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that as the objective function adjustment coefficient increases, the optimization results tend to prioritize response efficiency, and the deployed USV types gradually shift from mixed types to highperformance types. Correspondingly, the number of covered responsible sea area units decreases by 17.8%. To maintain the original area of the responsible sea area without reducing rescue efficiency, an additional annual investment budget of 21 000 to 97 000 RMB is required.

Key words

maritime search and rescue (SAR) / unmanned surface vehicle（USV）configuration / rescue base cluster deployment / efficiency balance strategy / collaborative optimization

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HAN Lichang, ZHAO Ruijia, YANG Qiuping.

Collaborative optimization of rescue base cluster-deployment and heterogeneous unmanned surface vehicle configuration for efficiency balance

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[J]. Journal of Dalian Maritime University. 2026, 52(1): 99-110

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