Method for Collaborative Layout Optimization of Ship Equipment and Pipe Based on Improved Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning and Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm

The engine room is the core area of a ship, critical to its operation, safety, and efficiency. Currently, many researchers merely address the ship engine room layout design (SERLD) problem using optimization algorithms and independent layout strategies. However, the engine room environment is complex, involving two significantly different challenges: equipment layout and pipe layout. Traditional methods fail to achieve optimal collaborative layout objectives. To address this research gap, this paper proposes a collaborative layout method that combines improved reinforcement learning and heuristic algorithms. For equipment layout, the engine room space is first discretized into a grid, and a Markov decision process (MDP) framework suitable for equipment layout is proposed, including state space, action space, and reward mechanisms suitable for equipment layout. An improved adaptive guided multi-agent Q-learning (AGMAQL) algorithm is employed to train the layout model in a centralized manner, with enhancements made to the agent’s exploration state, exploration action, and learning strategy. For pipe layout, this paper proposes an improved adaptive trajectory artificial fish swarm algorithm (ATAFSA). This algorithm incorporates a hybrid encoding method, adaptive strategy, scouting strategy, and parallel optimization strategy, resulting in enhanced stability, accuracy, and problem adaptability. Subsequently, by comprehensively considering layout objectives and engine room attributes, a collaborative layout method incorporating hierarchical and adaptive weight strategies is proposed. This method optimizes in phases according to the layout objectives and priorities of different stages, achieving multi-level optimal layouts and providing designers with various reference schemes with different focuses. Finally, based on a typical real-world engine room engineering case, various leading algorithms and strategies are tested and compared. The results show that the proposed AGMAQL-ATAFSA (AGMAQL-ATA) exhibits robustness, efficiency, and engineering practicality. Compared to previous research methods and algorithms, the final layout quality improved overall: equipment layout effectiveness increased by over 4.0%, pipe optimization efficiency improved by over 40.4%, and collaborative layout effectiveness enhanced by over 2.2%.