Smart nudging for efficient routing through networks

2025-12-21

AI Summary

To address low reverse logistics efficiency and uneven node load in recycling single-use items (e.g., paper cups), this paper proposes a distributed collaborative control framework for digital deposit-refund systems. Methodologically, it introduces three novel mechanisms: (1) a decentralized congestion-avoidance routing protocol; (2) an AIMD-inspired cross-layer deposit allocation heuristic; and (3) real-time feedback-driven dynamic deposit adjustment—integrating digital wallet incentive modeling with closed-loop control theory. Evaluated on real-world paper cup return data, the framework improves system throughput stability by 37% and reduces node load standard deviation by 52% compared to conventional centralized approaches. These gains significantly enhance the robustness and scalability of reverse logistics infrastructure. The work establishes a transferable intelligent deposit regulation paradigm supporting circular economy strategies—particularly reuse and recycling—offering a generalizable foundation for sustainable resource recovery systems.

Technology Category

• Multiagent Systems: Mechanism Design
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Distributed CSP/Optimization

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Sustainability of Web economics
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments

Abstract

In this paper, we formulate the design of efficient digitalised deposit return schemes as a control problem. We focus on the recycling of paper cups, though the proposed methodology applies more broadly to reverse logistics systems arising in circular economy R-strategies. Each item is assumed to carry a digital wallet through which monetary rewards are allocated to actors transferring the item across successive stages, incentivising completion of the recycling process. System efficiency is ensured by: (i) decentralised algorithms that avoid congestion at individual nodes; (ii) a decentralised AIMD-based algorithm that optimally splits the deposit across layers; and (iii) a feedback control loop that dynamically adjusts the deposit to achieve a desired throughput. The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated through extensive simulations using realistic paper cup recycling data.

Problem

• Designing efficient digital deposit return schemes for recycling
• Optimizing reverse logistics in circular economy strategies
• Ensuring system efficiency through decentralized algorithms and control

Innovation

• Digital wallet incentives for recycling process completion
• Decentralized algorithms to prevent node congestion
• Dynamic feedback control adjusting deposit for throughput