There are many different heuristic algorithms for solving combinatorial optimization problems that are commonly described as Nature-Inspired Algorithms (NIAs). Generally, they are inspired by some natural phenomenon, and due to their inherent converging and stochastic nature, they are known to give optimal results when compared to classical approaches. There are a large number of applications of NIAs, perhaps the most popular being route planning problems in robotics - problems that require a sequence of translation and rotation steps from the start to the goal in an optimized manner while avoiding obstacles in the environment. In this chapter, we will first give an overview of Nature-Inspired Algorithms, followed by their classification and common examples. We will then discuss how the NIAs have applied to solve the route planning problem.

The concept of walkable urban development has gained increased attention due to its public health, economic, and environmental sustainability benefits. Unfortunately, land zoning and historic under-investment have resulted in spatial inequality in walkability and social inequality among residents. We tackle the problem of Walkability Optimization through the lens of combinatorial optimization. The task is to select locations in which additional amenities (e.g., grocery stores, schools, restaurants) can be allocated to improve resident access via walking while taking into account existing amenities and providing multiple options (e.g., for restaurants). To this end, we derive Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and Constraint Programming (CP) models. Moreover, we show that the problem's objective function is submodular in special cases, which motivates an efficient greedy heuristic. We conduct a case study on 31 underserved neighborhoods in the City of Toronto, Canada. MILP finds the best solutions in most scenarios but does not scale well with network size. The greedy algorithm scales well and finds near-optimal solutions. Our empirical evaluation shows that neighbourhoods with low walkability have a great potential for transformation into pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods by strategically placing new amenities. Allocating 3 additional grocery stores, schools, and restaurants can improve the "WalkScore" by more than 50 points (on a scale of 100) for 4 neighbourhoods and reduce the walking distances to amenities for 75% of all residential locations to 10 minutes for all amenity types. Our code and paper appendix are available at https://github.com/khalil-research/walkability.

The management of networks is automated by closed loops. Concurrent closed loops aiming for individual optimization cause conflicts which, left unresolved, leads to significant degradation in performance indicators, resulting in sub-optimal network performance. Centralized optimization avoids conflicts, but impractical in large-scale networks for time-critical applications. Distributed, pervasive intelligence is therefore envisaged in the evolution to B5G networks. In this letter, we propose a Q-Learning-based distributed architecture (QLC), addressing the conflict issue by encouraging cooperation among intelligent agents. We design a realistic B5G network slice auto-scaling model and validate the performance of QLC via simulations, justifying further research in this direction.

Drone technology continues to advance, as more research and development is targeted toward traffic control systems for the small, flying devices. The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) was recently awarded the bulk of a roughly $1.8 million earmark by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study and test virtual unmanned traffic management technology, known as UTM. The effort is a partnership among NIAS, an FAA-designated drone test site; Switch, maker of data-center technology; and ANRA Technologies, which produces drones. Switch and ANRA will lead demonstrations and testing of unmanned flight systems, while NIAS will explore some of the system and requirements to operate drone fleets safely. Advances in drone traffic control could not be more timely, say makers of the devices, as companies explore using drones for any number of on-demand deliveries -- from groceries to chicken wings.

What lies ahead for Alzheimer's therapy development? While anti-amyloid antibodies are at last signaling some success, researchers agree that these expensive--and, thus far, at best modestly effective--biologic drugs can form only part of the arsenal needed to fight the disease. Researchers at the 12th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease conference, held December 4–7 in San Diego, California, broadly agreed that an array of therapeutic approaches will be needed to target symptomatic stages, or to combine with antibodies to boost efficacy. Speakers also discussed how to improve the dismal success rate of Alzheimer's clinical trials. In particular, there is a push to spend more time in Phase 2 to find the right dose and confirm physiological effects of the drug at hand.

The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS), in partnership with NASA UTM, conducted multiple drone tests at the Nevada UAS test site at the Reno-Stead Airport. The technology capability level 3 (TCL 3) focused on airspace management technologies seeking to enable the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace Systems. The research areas during the testing covered UAS ground control interfacing to locally manage operations, communication, navigation, surveillance, human factors, data exchange, network solutions and BVLOS architecture. "The state of Nevada will be known for its significant contribution in this journey through its pioneering work with the FAA, NASA and private partners like ourselves, facilitating safe and effective integration into national airspace," says Mike Richards, President and CEO of Drone America. NASA, FAA and its partners, and NIAS are working on the innovations and the industry growth while respecting aviation safety traditions.

The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS), in partnership with NASA UTM, conducted multiple drone tests at the Nevada UAS test site at the Reno-Stead Airport. The technology capability level 3 (TCL 3) focused on airspace management technologies seeking to enable the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace Systems. The research areas during the testing covered UAS ground control interfacing to locally manage operations, communication, navigation, surveillance, human factors, data exchange, network solutions and BVLOS architecture. "The state of Nevada will be known for its significant contribution in this journey through its pioneering work with the FAA, NASA and private partners like ourselves, facilitating safe and effective integration into national airspace," says Mike Richards, President and CEO of Drone America. NASA, FAA and its partners, and NIAS are working on the innovations and the industry growth while respecting aviation safety traditions.

Bengaluru: Infosys Ltd is looking to partner with companies that offer data analytics or artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, including International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), but has no plans to abandon its own Nia platform. Infosys, India's second largest software services firm, is seeking to use these platforms to help it win more business from its own customers. Infosys wants to scale up the business model that allows it to sell a cognitive platform that will help its Fortune 500 clients run their businesses more efficiently. For this reason, the Bengaluru-based firm wants to sell solutions like IBM Watson along with its service offering, according to an executive with direct knowledge of the development. Infosys, under chief executive officer Vishal Sikka, who stepped down in August, had earlier made its own proprietary AI platform, Nia (formerly called Mana), the cornerstone of its strategy of transforming itself into a new-age services company.

Infosys has introduced a next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Nia, to strengthen its digital technology-based services. Nia builds on Mana, the first AI platform introduced by the software services major last year. It also includes the robotic process automation capabilities of AssistEdge, another Infosys solution. The integrated platform will add a layer of forecasting in businesses across the sector, be it demand in manufacturing or risk-profiling. "Together, both these products (Mana and AssistEdge) have amassed more than 50 clients and over 150 engagements across all industry sectors within a year of operations. As a unified, flexible and modular platform, Nia enables a wide set of industry and function-specific solutions and allows clients to build custom experiences to suit their business needs," the company said in a statement on Thursday.

The world's first passenger drone capable of autonomously carrying a person in the air for 23 minutes has been given clearance for testing in Nevada. Chinese firm Ehang, which unveiled the electric Ehang 184 passenger drone at CES in Las Vegas in January, has partnered with the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) and the Governor's Office of Economic Development (Goed) to put the drone through testing and regulatory approval. Tom Wilczek, Goed's aerospace and defence specialist said: "The State of Nevada, through NIAS, will help guide Ehang through the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) regulatory process with the ultimate goal of achieving safe flight." The founder and chief executive of Ehang, Huazhi Hu, said the move would lay the foundation for the 184's commercialisation and kickstart the autonomous aerial transportation industry. Ehang hopes to begin testing later this year and will have to prove airworthiness to the FAA, with guidance from NIAS, before being able to operate in a wider capacity.