Penalties and Dropping Visits

In this section, we explain how to handle routing problems that have no feasible solution, due to constraints. For example, if you are given a VRP with capacity constraints in which the total demand at all locations exceeds the total capacity of the vehicles, no solution is possible. In such cases, the vehicles must drop visits to some locations. The problem is how to decide which visits to drop.

To solve the problem, we introduce new costs — called penalties — at all locations. Whenever a visit to a location is dropped, the penalty is added to the total distance traveled. The solver then finds a route that minimizes the total distance plus the sum of the penalties for all dropped locations.

As an example, consider the simple VRP with capacity constraints given by the graph below, in which the numbers next to the three locations (other than the depot) are demands.

Suppose there is just one vehicle with capacity 50. It can't visit all three locations, A, B, and C, because the total demand is 60. To solve the problem, you assign a large penalty — say 100 — to each location. After detecting that the problem is infeasible, the solver drops location B and returns the following route: Depot -> A -> C -> Depot

This is the shortest route that visits two of the three locations (the distance is 55).

Penalty sizes

In the example above, we chose penalties that are larger than the sum of all distances between locations (excluding the depot). As a result, after dropping one location to make the problem feasible, the solver doesn't drop any additional locations, because the penalty for doing so would exceed any further reduction in travel distance.

Assuming you want to make as many deliveries as possible, this gives a satisfactory solution to the problem.

If you don't need to make as many deliveries as possible, you might want to assign smaller penalties, in which case the solver may drop more locations than is necessary to make the problem feasible. For example, you might do this if there are additional costs, above the basic travel cost, to visiting certain locations.

Example

Next, we present a larger example of a VRP that can be solved using penalties. The example is similar to the previous CVRP example, but this time we have increased some of the demands, forcing some vehicles to drop visits.

A graph of the locations and new demands is shown below.

Solving the example with OR-Tools

The following sections explain how to solve the example with OR-Tools.

Create the data

The data for this example includes the data in the previous VRP example, and adds the following demands and capacities:

Python

    data["demands"] = [0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8]
    data["vehicle_capacities"] = [15, 15, 15, 15]

C++

  const std::vector<int64_t> demands{
      0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8,
  };
  const std::vector<int64_t> vehicle_capacities{15, 15, 15, 15};

Java

    public final long[] demands = {0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8};
    public final long[] vehicleCapacities = {15, 15, 15, 15};

C#

        public long[] Demands = { 0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8 };
        public long[] VehicleCapacities = { 15, 15, 15, 15 };

Add the capacity constraints and penalties

The following code adds the demand callback and capacity constraints, and adds penalties using the AddDisjunction method.

Python

    def demand_callback(from_index):
        """Returns the demand of the node."""
        # Convert from routing variable Index to demands NodeIndex.
        from_node = manager.IndexToNode(from_index)
        return data["demands"][from_node]

    demand_callback_index = routing.RegisterUnaryTransitCallback(demand_callback)
    routing.AddDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(
        demand_callback_index,
        0,  # null capacity slack
        data["vehicle_capacities"],  # vehicle maximum capacities
        True,  # start cumul to zero
        "Capacity",
    )
    # Allow to drop nodes.
    penalty = 1000
    for node in range(1, len(data["distance_matrix"])):
        routing.AddDisjunction([manager.NodeToIndex(node)], penalty)

C++

  const int demand_callback_index = routing.RegisterUnaryTransitCallback(
      [&data, &manager](const int64_t from_index) -> int64_t {
        // Convert from routing variable Index to demand NodeIndex.
        const int from_node = manager.IndexToNode(from_index).value();
        return data.demands[from_node];
      });
  routing.AddDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(
      demand_callback_index,    // transit callback index
      int64_t{0},               // null capacity slack
      data.vehicle_capacities,  // vehicle maximum capacities
      true,                     // start cumul to zero
      "Capacity");
  // Allow to drop nodes.
  int64_t penalty{1000};
  for (int i = 1; i < data.distance_matrix.size(); ++i) {
    routing.AddDisjunction(
        {manager.NodeToIndex(RoutingIndexManager::NodeIndex(i))}, penalty);
  }

Java

    final int demandCallbackIndex = routing.registerUnaryTransitCallback((long fromIndex) -> {
      // Convert from routing variable Index to user NodeIndex.
      int fromNode = manager.indexToNode(fromIndex);
      return data.demands[fromNode];
    });
    routing.addDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(demandCallbackIndex, 0, // null capacity slack
        data.vehicleCapacities, // vehicle maximum capacities
        true, // start cumul to zero
        "Capacity");
    // Allow to drop nodes.
    long penalty = 1000;
    for (int i = 1; i < data.distanceMatrix.length; ++i) {
      routing.addDisjunction(new long[] {manager.nodeToIndex(i)}, penalty);
    }

C#

        int demandCallbackIndex = routing.RegisterUnaryTransitCallback((long fromIndex) =>
                                                                       {
                                                                           // Convert from routing variable Index to
                                                                           // demand NodeIndex.
                                                                           var fromNode =
                                                                               manager.IndexToNode(fromIndex);
                                                                           return data.Demands[fromNode];
                                                                       });
        routing.AddDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(demandCallbackIndex, 0, // null capacity slack
                                                data.VehicleCapacities, // vehicle maximum capacities
                                                true,                   // start cumul to zero
                                                "Capacity");
        // Allow to drop nodes.
        long penalty = 1000;
        for (int i = 1; i < data.DistanceMatrix.GetLength(0); ++i)
        {
            routing.AddDisjunction(new long[] { manager.NodeToIndex(i) }, penalty);
        }

In this context, a disjunction is simply a variable that the solver uses to decide whether to include a given location in the solution. In this example, the method adds the same penalty to each location, but in general you can add different penalties to different locations.

Add the solution printer

The solution printer, shown below, is similar to the one in the CVRP example, but also displays the dropped locations.

Python

def print_solution(data, manager, routing, assignment):
    """Prints assignment on console."""
    print(f"Objective: {assignment.ObjectiveValue()}")
    # Display dropped nodes.
    dropped_nodes = "Dropped nodes:"
    for node in range(routing.Size()):
        if routing.IsStart(node) or routing.IsEnd(node):
            continue
        if assignment.Value(routing.NextVar(node)) == node:
            dropped_nodes += f" {manager.IndexToNode(node)}"
    print(dropped_nodes)
    # Display routes
    total_distance = 0
    total_load = 0
    for vehicle_id in range(data["num_vehicles"]):
        index = routing.Start(vehicle_id)
        plan_output = f"Route for vehicle {vehicle_id}:\n"
        route_distance = 0
        route_load = 0
        while not routing.IsEnd(index):
            node_index = manager.IndexToNode(index)
            route_load += data["demands"][node_index]
            plan_output += f" {node_index} Load({route_load}) -> "
            previous_index = index
            index = assignment.Value(routing.NextVar(index))
            route_distance += routing.GetArcCostForVehicle(
                previous_index, index, vehicle_id
            )
        plan_output += f" {manager.IndexToNode(index)} Load({route_load})\n"
        plan_output += f"Distance of the route: {route_distance}m\n"
        plan_output += f"Load of the route: {route_load}\n"
        print(plan_output)
        total_distance += route_distance
        total_load += route_load
    print(f"Total Distance of all routes: {total_distance}m")
    print(f"Total Load of all routes: {total_load}")

C++

//! @brief Print the solution.
//! @param[in] data Data of the problem.
//! @param[in] manager Index manager used.
//! @param[in] routing Routing solver used.
//! @param[in] solution Solution found by the solver.
void PrintSolution(const DataModel& data, const RoutingIndexManager& manager,
                   const RoutingModel& routing, const Assignment& solution) {
  // Display dropped nodes.
  std::ostringstream dropped_nodes;
  for (int64_t node = 0; node < routing.Size(); ++node) {
    if (routing.IsStart(node) || routing.IsEnd(node)) continue;
    if (solution.Value(routing.NextVar(node)) == node) {
      dropped_nodes << " " << manager.IndexToNode(node).value();
    }
  }
  LOG(INFO) << "Dropped nodes:" << dropped_nodes.str();
  // Display routes
  int64_t total_distance{0};
  int64_t total_load{0};
  for (int vehicle_id = 0; vehicle_id < data.num_vehicles; ++vehicle_id) {
    int64_t index = routing.Start(vehicle_id);
    LOG(INFO) << "Route for Vehicle " << vehicle_id << ":";
    int64_t route_distance{0};
    int64_t route_load{0};
    std::ostringstream route;
    while (!routing.IsEnd(index)) {
      const int node_index = manager.IndexToNode(index).value();
      route_load += data.demands[node_index];
      route << node_index << " Load(" << route_load << ") -> ";
      const int64_t previous_index = index;
      index = solution.Value(routing.NextVar(index));
      route_distance += routing.GetArcCostForVehicle(previous_index, index,
                                                     int64_t{vehicle_id});
    }
    LOG(INFO) << route.str() << manager.IndexToNode(index).value();
    LOG(INFO) << "Distance of the route: " << route_distance << "m";
    LOG(INFO) << "Load of the route: " << route_load;
    total_distance += route_distance;
    total_load += route_load;
  }
  LOG(INFO) << "Total distance of all routes: " << total_distance << "m";
  LOG(INFO) << "Total load of all routes: " << total_load;
  LOG(INFO) << "";
  LOG(INFO) << "Advanced usage:";
  LOG(INFO) << "Problem solved in " << routing.solver()->wall_time() << "ms";
}

Java

  /// @brief Print the solution.
  static void printSolution(
      DataModel data, RoutingModel routing, RoutingIndexManager manager, Assignment solution) {
    // Solution cost.
    logger.info("Objective: " + solution.objectiveValue());
    // Inspect solution.
    // Display dropped nodes.
    String droppedNodes = "Dropped nodes:";
    for (int node = 0; node < routing.size(); ++node) {
      if (routing.isStart(node) || routing.isEnd(node)) {
        continue;
      }
      if (solution.value(routing.nextVar(node)) == node) {
        droppedNodes += " " + manager.indexToNode(node);
      }
    }
    logger.info(droppedNodes);
    // Display routes
    long totalDistance = 0;
    long totalLoad = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < data.vehicleNumber; ++i) {
      long index = routing.start(i);
      logger.info("Route for Vehicle " + i + ":");
      long routeDistance = 0;
      long routeLoad = 0;
      String route = "";
      while (!routing.isEnd(index)) {
        long nodeIndex = manager.indexToNode(index);
        routeLoad += data.demands[(int) nodeIndex];
        route += nodeIndex + " Load(" + routeLoad + ") -> ";
        long previousIndex = index;
        index = solution.value(routing.nextVar(index));
        routeDistance += routing.getArcCostForVehicle(previousIndex, index, i);
      }
      route += manager.indexToNode(routing.end(i));
      logger.info(route);
      logger.info("Distance of the route: " + routeDistance + "m");
      totalDistance += routeDistance;
      totalLoad += routeLoad;
    }
    logger.info("Total Distance of all routes: " + totalDistance + "m");
    logger.info("Total Load of all routes: " + totalLoad);
  }

C#

    /// <summary>
    ///   Print the solution.
    /// </summary>
    static void PrintSolution(in DataModel data, in RoutingModel routing, in RoutingIndexManager manager,
                              in Assignment solution)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Objective {solution.ObjectiveValue()}:");

        // Inspect solution.
        // Display dropped nodes.
        string droppedNodes = "Dropped nodes:";
        for (int index = 0; index < routing.Size(); ++index)
        {
            if (routing.IsStart(index) || routing.IsEnd(index))
            {
                continue;
            }
            if (solution.Value(routing.NextVar(index)) == index)
            {
                droppedNodes += " " + manager.IndexToNode(index);
            }
        }
        Console.WriteLine("{0}", droppedNodes);
        // Inspect solution.
        long totalDistance = 0;
        long totalLoad = 0;
        for (int i = 0; i < data.VehicleNumber; ++i)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Route for Vehicle {0}:", i);
            long routeDistance = 0;
            long routeLoad = 0;
            var index = routing.Start(i);
            while (routing.IsEnd(index) == false)
            {
                long nodeIndex = manager.IndexToNode(index);
                routeLoad += data.Demands[nodeIndex];
                Console.Write("{0} Load({1}) -> ", nodeIndex, routeLoad);
                var previousIndex = index;
                index = solution.Value(routing.NextVar(index));
                routeDistance += routing.GetArcCostForVehicle(previousIndex, index, 0);
            }
            Console.WriteLine("{0}", manager.IndexToNode((int)index));
            Console.WriteLine("Distance of the route: {0}m", routeDistance);
            totalDistance += routeDistance;
            totalLoad += routeLoad;
        }
        Console.WriteLine("Total Distance of all routes: {0}m", totalDistance);
        Console.WriteLine("Total Load of all routes: {0}m", totalLoad);
    }

Running the program

When you run the program, it returns the following output shown below. Note that the solver drops locations 6 and 15.

Objective: 7936
Dropped nodes: 6 15
Route for vehicle 0:
 0 Load(0) ->  9 Load(1) ->  14 Load(7) ->  16 Load(15) ->  0 Load(15)
Distance of the route: 1324m
Load of the route: 15

Route for vehicle 1:
 0 Load(0) ->  12 Load(2) ->  11 Load(3) ->  4 Load(9) ->  3 Load(12) ->  1 Load(13) ->  0 Load(13)
Distance of the route: 1872m
Load of the route: 13

Route for vehicle 2:
 0 Load(0) ->  7 Load(8) ->  13 Load(14) ->  0 Load(14)
Distance of the route: 868m
Load of the route: 14

Route for vehicle 3:
 0 Load(0) ->  8 Load(8) ->  10 Load(10) ->  2 Load(11) ->  5 Load(14) ->  0 Load(14)
Distance of the route: 1872m
Load of the route: 14

Total Distance of all routes: 5936m
Total Load of all routes: 56

Here's diagram of the routes.

Complete programs

Here are the complete programs.

Python

"""Capacited Vehicles Routing Problem (CVRP)."""

from ortools.constraint_solver import routing_enums_pb2
from ortools.constraint_solver import pywrapcp


def create_data_model():
    """Stores the data for the problem."""
    data = {}
    data["distance_matrix"] = [
        # fmt: off
      [0, 548, 776, 696, 582, 274, 502, 194, 308, 194, 536, 502, 388, 354, 468, 776, 662],
      [548, 0, 684, 308, 194, 502, 730, 354, 696, 742, 1084, 594, 480, 674, 1016, 868, 1210],
      [776, 684, 0, 992, 878, 502, 274, 810, 468, 742, 400, 1278, 1164, 1130, 788, 1552, 754],
      [696, 308, 992, 0, 114, 650, 878, 502, 844, 890, 1232, 514, 628, 822, 1164, 560, 1358],
      [582, 194, 878, 114, 0, 536, 764, 388, 730, 776, 1118, 400, 514, 708, 1050, 674, 1244],
      [274, 502, 502, 650, 536, 0, 228, 308, 194, 240, 582, 776, 662, 628, 514, 1050, 708],
      [502, 730, 274, 878, 764, 228, 0, 536, 194, 468, 354, 1004, 890, 856, 514, 1278, 480],
      [194, 354, 810, 502, 388, 308, 536, 0, 342, 388, 730, 468, 354, 320, 662, 742, 856],
      [308, 696, 468, 844, 730, 194, 194, 342, 0, 274, 388, 810, 696, 662, 320, 1084, 514],
      [194, 742, 742, 890, 776, 240, 468, 388, 274, 0, 342, 536, 422, 388, 274, 810, 468],
      [536, 1084, 400, 1232, 1118, 582, 354, 730, 388, 342, 0, 878, 764, 730, 388, 1152, 354],
      [502, 594, 1278, 514, 400, 776, 1004, 468, 810, 536, 878, 0, 114, 308, 650, 274, 844],
      [388, 480, 1164, 628, 514, 662, 890, 354, 696, 422, 764, 114, 0, 194, 536, 388, 730],
      [354, 674, 1130, 822, 708, 628, 856, 320, 662, 388, 730, 308, 194, 0, 342, 422, 536],
      [468, 1016, 788, 1164, 1050, 514, 514, 662, 320, 274, 388, 650, 536, 342, 0, 764, 194],
      [776, 868, 1552, 560, 674, 1050, 1278, 742, 1084, 810, 1152, 274, 388, 422, 764, 0, 798],
      [662, 1210, 754, 1358, 1244, 708, 480, 856, 514, 468, 354, 844, 730, 536, 194, 798, 0],
        # fmt: on
    ]
    data["demands"] = [0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8]
    data["vehicle_capacities"] = [15, 15, 15, 15]
    data["num_vehicles"] = 4
    data["depot"] = 0
    return data


def print_solution(data, manager, routing, assignment):
    """Prints assignment on console."""
    print(f"Objective: {assignment.ObjectiveValue()}")
    # Display dropped nodes.
    dropped_nodes = "Dropped nodes:"
    for node in range(routing.Size()):
        if routing.IsStart(node) or routing.IsEnd(node):
            continue
        if assignment.Value(routing.NextVar(node)) == node:
            dropped_nodes += f" {manager.IndexToNode(node)}"
    print(dropped_nodes)
    # Display routes
    total_distance = 0
    total_load = 0
    for vehicle_id in range(data["num_vehicles"]):
        index = routing.Start(vehicle_id)
        plan_output = f"Route for vehicle {vehicle_id}:\n"
        route_distance = 0
        route_load = 0
        while not routing.IsEnd(index):
            node_index = manager.IndexToNode(index)
            route_load += data["demands"][node_index]
            plan_output += f" {node_index} Load({route_load}) -> "
            previous_index = index
            index = assignment.Value(routing.NextVar(index))
            route_distance += routing.GetArcCostForVehicle(
                previous_index, index, vehicle_id
            )
        plan_output += f" {manager.IndexToNode(index)} Load({route_load})\n"
        plan_output += f"Distance of the route: {route_distance}m\n"
        plan_output += f"Load of the route: {route_load}\n"
        print(plan_output)
        total_distance += route_distance
        total_load += route_load
    print(f"Total Distance of all routes: {total_distance}m")
    print(f"Total Load of all routes: {total_load}")


def main():
    """Solve the CVRP problem."""
    # Instantiate the data problem.
    data = create_data_model()

    # Create the routing index manager.
    manager = pywrapcp.RoutingIndexManager(
        len(data["distance_matrix"]), data["num_vehicles"], data["depot"]
    )

    # Create Routing Model.
    routing = pywrapcp.RoutingModel(manager)

    # Create and register a transit callback.
    def distance_callback(from_index, to_index):
        """Returns the distance between the two nodes."""
        # Convert from routing variable Index to distance matrix NodeIndex.
        from_node = manager.IndexToNode(from_index)
        to_node = manager.IndexToNode(to_index)
        return data["distance_matrix"][from_node][to_node]

    transit_callback_index = routing.RegisterTransitCallback(distance_callback)

    # Define cost of each arc.
    routing.SetArcCostEvaluatorOfAllVehicles(transit_callback_index)

    # Add Capacity constraint.
    def demand_callback(from_index):
        """Returns the demand of the node."""
        # Convert from routing variable Index to demands NodeIndex.
        from_node = manager.IndexToNode(from_index)
        return data["demands"][from_node]

    demand_callback_index = routing.RegisterUnaryTransitCallback(demand_callback)
    routing.AddDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(
        demand_callback_index,
        0,  # null capacity slack
        data["vehicle_capacities"],  # vehicle maximum capacities
        True,  # start cumul to zero
        "Capacity",
    )
    # Allow to drop nodes.
    penalty = 1000
    for node in range(1, len(data["distance_matrix"])):
        routing.AddDisjunction([manager.NodeToIndex(node)], penalty)

    # Setting first solution heuristic.
    search_parameters = pywrapcp.DefaultRoutingSearchParameters()
    search_parameters.first_solution_strategy = (
        routing_enums_pb2.FirstSolutionStrategy.PATH_CHEAPEST_ARC
    )
    search_parameters.local_search_metaheuristic = (
        routing_enums_pb2.LocalSearchMetaheuristic.GUIDED_LOCAL_SEARCH
    )
    search_parameters.time_limit.FromSeconds(1)

    # Solve the problem.
    assignment = routing.SolveWithParameters(search_parameters)

    # Print solution on console.
    if assignment:
        print_solution(data, manager, routing, assignment)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

C++

#include <cstdint>
#include <sstream>
#include <vector>

#include "google/protobuf/duration.pb.h"
#include "ortools/constraint_solver/routing.h"
#include "ortools/constraint_solver/routing_enums.pb.h"
#include "ortools/constraint_solver/routing_index_manager.h"
#include "ortools/constraint_solver/routing_parameters.h"

namespace operations_research {
struct DataModel {
  const std::vector<std::vector<int64_t>> distance_matrix{
      {0, 548, 776, 696, 582, 274, 502, 194, 308, 194, 536, 502, 388, 354, 468,
       776, 662},
      {548, 0, 684, 308, 194, 502, 730, 354, 696, 742, 1084, 594, 480, 674,
       1016, 868, 1210},
      {776, 684, 0, 992, 878, 502, 274, 810, 468, 742, 400, 1278, 1164, 1130,
       788, 1552, 754},
      {696, 308, 992, 0, 114, 650, 878, 502, 844, 890, 1232, 514, 628, 822,
       1164, 560, 1358},
      {582, 194, 878, 114, 0, 536, 764, 388, 730, 776, 1118, 400, 514, 708,
       1050, 674, 1244},
      {274, 502, 502, 650, 536, 0, 228, 308, 194, 240, 582, 776, 662, 628, 514,
       1050, 708},
      {502, 730, 274, 878, 764, 228, 0, 536, 194, 468, 354, 1004, 890, 856, 514,
       1278, 480},
      {194, 354, 810, 502, 388, 308, 536, 0, 342, 388, 730, 468, 354, 320, 662,
       742, 856},
      {308, 696, 468, 844, 730, 194, 194, 342, 0, 274, 388, 810, 696, 662, 320,
       1084, 514},
      {194, 742, 742, 890, 776, 240, 468, 388, 274, 0, 342, 536, 422, 388, 274,
       810, 468},
      {536, 1084, 400, 1232, 1118, 582, 354, 730, 388, 342, 0, 878, 764, 730,
       388, 1152, 354},
      {502, 594, 1278, 514, 400, 776, 1004, 468, 810, 536, 878, 0, 114, 308,
       650, 274, 844},
      {388, 480, 1164, 628, 514, 662, 890, 354, 696, 422, 764, 114, 0, 194, 536,
       388, 730},
      {354, 674, 1130, 822, 708, 628, 856, 320, 662, 388, 730, 308, 194, 0, 342,
       422, 536},
      {468, 1016, 788, 1164, 1050, 514, 514, 662, 320, 274, 388, 650, 536, 342,
       0, 764, 194},
      {776, 868, 1552, 560, 674, 1050, 1278, 742, 1084, 810, 1152, 274, 388,
       422, 764, 0, 798},
      {662, 1210, 754, 1358, 1244, 708, 480, 856, 514, 468, 354, 844, 730, 536,
       194, 798, 0},
  };
  const std::vector<int64_t> demands{
      0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8,
  };
  const std::vector<int64_t> vehicle_capacities{15, 15, 15, 15};
  const int num_vehicles = 4;
  const RoutingIndexManager::NodeIndex depot{0};
};

//! @brief Print the solution.
//! @param[in] data Data of the problem.
//! @param[in] manager Index manager used.
//! @param[in] routing Routing solver used.
//! @param[in] solution Solution found by the solver.
void PrintSolution(const DataModel& data, const RoutingIndexManager& manager,
                   const RoutingModel& routing, const Assignment& solution) {
  // Display dropped nodes.
  std::ostringstream dropped_nodes;
  for (int64_t node = 0; node < routing.Size(); ++node) {
    if (routing.IsStart(node) || routing.IsEnd(node)) continue;
    if (solution.Value(routing.NextVar(node)) == node) {
      dropped_nodes << " " << manager.IndexToNode(node).value();
    }
  }
  LOG(INFO) << "Dropped nodes:" << dropped_nodes.str();
  // Display routes
  int64_t total_distance{0};
  int64_t total_load{0};
  for (int vehicle_id = 0; vehicle_id < data.num_vehicles; ++vehicle_id) {
    int64_t index = routing.Start(vehicle_id);
    LOG(INFO) << "Route for Vehicle " << vehicle_id << ":";
    int64_t route_distance{0};
    int64_t route_load{0};
    std::ostringstream route;
    while (!routing.IsEnd(index)) {
      const int node_index = manager.IndexToNode(index).value();
      route_load += data.demands[node_index];
      route << node_index << " Load(" << route_load << ") -> ";
      const int64_t previous_index = index;
      index = solution.Value(routing.NextVar(index));
      route_distance += routing.GetArcCostForVehicle(previous_index, index,
                                                     int64_t{vehicle_id});
    }
    LOG(INFO) << route.str() << manager.IndexToNode(index).value();
    LOG(INFO) << "Distance of the route: " << route_distance << "m";
    LOG(INFO) << "Load of the route: " << route_load;
    total_distance += route_distance;
    total_load += route_load;
  }
  LOG(INFO) << "Total distance of all routes: " << total_distance << "m";
  LOG(INFO) << "Total load of all routes: " << total_load;
  LOG(INFO) << "";
  LOG(INFO) << "Advanced usage:";
  LOG(INFO) << "Problem solved in " << routing.solver()->wall_time() << "ms";
}

void VrpDropNodes() {
  // Instantiate the data problem.
  DataModel data;

  // Create Routing Index Manager
  RoutingIndexManager manager(data.distance_matrix.size(), data.num_vehicles,
                              data.depot);

  // Create Routing Model.
  RoutingModel routing(manager);

  // Create and register a transit callback.
  const int transit_callback_index = routing.RegisterTransitCallback(
      [&data, &manager](const int64_t from_index,
                        const int64_t to_index) -> int64_t {
        // Convert from routing variable Index to distance matrix NodeIndex.
        const int from_node = manager.IndexToNode(from_index).value();
        const int to_node = manager.IndexToNode(to_index).value();
        return data.distance_matrix[from_node][to_node];
      });

  // Define cost of each arc.
  routing.SetArcCostEvaluatorOfAllVehicles(transit_callback_index);

  // Add Capacity constraint.
  const int demand_callback_index = routing.RegisterUnaryTransitCallback(
      [&data, &manager](const int64_t from_index) -> int64_t {
        // Convert from routing variable Index to demand NodeIndex.
        const int from_node = manager.IndexToNode(from_index).value();
        return data.demands[from_node];
      });
  routing.AddDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(
      demand_callback_index,    // transit callback index
      int64_t{0},               // null capacity slack
      data.vehicle_capacities,  // vehicle maximum capacities
      true,                     // start cumul to zero
      "Capacity");
  // Allow to drop nodes.
  int64_t penalty{1000};
  for (int i = 1; i < data.distance_matrix.size(); ++i) {
    routing.AddDisjunction(
        {manager.NodeToIndex(RoutingIndexManager::NodeIndex(i))}, penalty);
  }

  // Setting first solution heuristic.
  RoutingSearchParameters search_parameters = DefaultRoutingSearchParameters();
  search_parameters.set_first_solution_strategy(
      FirstSolutionStrategy::PATH_CHEAPEST_ARC);
  search_parameters.set_local_search_metaheuristic(
      LocalSearchMetaheuristic::GUIDED_LOCAL_SEARCH);
  search_parameters.mutable_time_limit()->set_seconds(1);

  // Solve the problem.
  const Assignment* solution = routing.SolveWithParameters(search_parameters);

  // Print solution on console.
  PrintSolution(data, manager, routing, *solution);
}
}  // namespace operations_research

int main(int /*argc*/, char* /*argv*/[]) {
  operations_research::VrpDropNodes();
  return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

Java

package com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.samples;
import com.google.ortools.Loader;
import com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.Assignment;
import com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.FirstSolutionStrategy;
import com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.LocalSearchMetaheuristic;
import com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.RoutingIndexManager;
import com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.RoutingModel;
import com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.RoutingSearchParameters;
import com.google.ortools.constraintsolver.main;
import com.google.protobuf.Duration;
import java.util.logging.Logger;

/** Minimal VRP.*/
public class VrpDropNodes {
  private static final Logger logger = Logger.getLogger(VrpDropNodes.class.getName());

  static class DataModel {
    public final long[][] distanceMatrix = {
        {0, 548, 776, 696, 582, 274, 502, 194, 308, 194, 536, 502, 388, 354, 468, 776, 662},
        {548, 0, 684, 308, 194, 502, 730, 354, 696, 742, 1084, 594, 480, 674, 1016, 868, 1210},
        {776, 684, 0, 992, 878, 502, 274, 810, 468, 742, 400, 1278, 1164, 1130, 788, 1552, 754},
        {696, 308, 992, 0, 114, 650, 878, 502, 844, 890, 1232, 514, 628, 822, 1164, 560, 1358},
        {582, 194, 878, 114, 0, 536, 764, 388, 730, 776, 1118, 400, 514, 708, 1050, 674, 1244},
        {274, 502, 502, 650, 536, 0, 228, 308, 194, 240, 582, 776, 662, 628, 514, 1050, 708},
        {502, 730, 274, 878, 764, 228, 0, 536, 194, 468, 354, 1004, 890, 856, 514, 1278, 480},
        {194, 354, 810, 502, 388, 308, 536, 0, 342, 388, 730, 468, 354, 320, 662, 742, 856},
        {308, 696, 468, 844, 730, 194, 194, 342, 0, 274, 388, 810, 696, 662, 320, 1084, 514},
        {194, 742, 742, 890, 776, 240, 468, 388, 274, 0, 342, 536, 422, 388, 274, 810, 468},
        {536, 1084, 400, 1232, 1118, 582, 354, 730, 388, 342, 0, 878, 764, 730, 388, 1152, 354},
        {502, 594, 1278, 514, 400, 776, 1004, 468, 810, 536, 878, 0, 114, 308, 650, 274, 844},
        {388, 480, 1164, 628, 514, 662, 890, 354, 696, 422, 764, 114, 0, 194, 536, 388, 730},
        {354, 674, 1130, 822, 708, 628, 856, 320, 662, 388, 730, 308, 194, 0, 342, 422, 536},
        {468, 1016, 788, 1164, 1050, 514, 514, 662, 320, 274, 388, 650, 536, 342, 0, 764, 194},
        {776, 868, 1552, 560, 674, 1050, 1278, 742, 1084, 810, 1152, 274, 388, 422, 764, 0, 798},
        {662, 1210, 754, 1358, 1244, 708, 480, 856, 514, 468, 354, 844, 730, 536, 194, 798, 0},
    };
    public final long[] demands = {0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8};
    public final long[] vehicleCapacities = {15, 15, 15, 15};
    public final int vehicleNumber = 4;
    public final int depot = 0;
  }

  /// @brief Print the solution.
  static void printSolution(
      DataModel data, RoutingModel routing, RoutingIndexManager manager, Assignment solution) {
    // Solution cost.
    logger.info("Objective: " + solution.objectiveValue());
    // Inspect solution.
    // Display dropped nodes.
    String droppedNodes = "Dropped nodes:";
    for (int node = 0; node < routing.size(); ++node) {
      if (routing.isStart(node) || routing.isEnd(node)) {
        continue;
      }
      if (solution.value(routing.nextVar(node)) == node) {
        droppedNodes += " " + manager.indexToNode(node);
      }
    }
    logger.info(droppedNodes);
    // Display routes
    long totalDistance = 0;
    long totalLoad = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < data.vehicleNumber; ++i) {
      long index = routing.start(i);
      logger.info("Route for Vehicle " + i + ":");
      long routeDistance = 0;
      long routeLoad = 0;
      String route = "";
      while (!routing.isEnd(index)) {
        long nodeIndex = manager.indexToNode(index);
        routeLoad += data.demands[(int) nodeIndex];
        route += nodeIndex + " Load(" + routeLoad + ") -> ";
        long previousIndex = index;
        index = solution.value(routing.nextVar(index));
        routeDistance += routing.getArcCostForVehicle(previousIndex, index, i);
      }
      route += manager.indexToNode(routing.end(i));
      logger.info(route);
      logger.info("Distance of the route: " + routeDistance + "m");
      totalDistance += routeDistance;
      totalLoad += routeLoad;
    }
    logger.info("Total Distance of all routes: " + totalDistance + "m");
    logger.info("Total Load of all routes: " + totalLoad);
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
    Loader.loadNativeLibraries();
    // Instantiate the data problem.
    final DataModel data = new DataModel();

    // Create Routing Index Manager
    RoutingIndexManager manager =
        new RoutingIndexManager(data.distanceMatrix.length, data.vehicleNumber, data.depot);

    // Create Routing Model.
    RoutingModel routing = new RoutingModel(manager);

    // Create and register a transit callback.
    final int transitCallbackIndex =
        routing.registerTransitCallback((long fromIndex, long toIndex) -> {
          // Convert from routing variable Index to user NodeIndex.
          int fromNode = manager.indexToNode(fromIndex);
          int toNode = manager.indexToNode(toIndex);
          return data.distanceMatrix[fromNode][toNode];
        });

    // Define cost of each arc.
    routing.setArcCostEvaluatorOfAllVehicles(transitCallbackIndex);

    // Add Capacity constraint.
    final int demandCallbackIndex = routing.registerUnaryTransitCallback((long fromIndex) -> {
      // Convert from routing variable Index to user NodeIndex.
      int fromNode = manager.indexToNode(fromIndex);
      return data.demands[fromNode];
    });
    routing.addDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(demandCallbackIndex, 0, // null capacity slack
        data.vehicleCapacities, // vehicle maximum capacities
        true, // start cumul to zero
        "Capacity");
    // Allow to drop nodes.
    long penalty = 1000;
    for (int i = 1; i < data.distanceMatrix.length; ++i) {
      routing.addDisjunction(new long[] {manager.nodeToIndex(i)}, penalty);
    }

    // Setting first solution heuristic.
    RoutingSearchParameters searchParameters =
        main.defaultRoutingSearchParameters()
            .toBuilder()
            .setFirstSolutionStrategy(FirstSolutionStrategy.Value.PATH_CHEAPEST_ARC)
            .setLocalSearchMetaheuristic(LocalSearchMetaheuristic.Value.GUIDED_LOCAL_SEARCH)
            .setTimeLimit(Duration.newBuilder().setSeconds(1).build())
            .build();

    // Solve the problem.
    Assignment solution = routing.solveWithParameters(searchParameters);

    // Print solution on console.
    printSolution(data, routing, manager, solution);
  }
}

C#

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Google.OrTools.ConstraintSolver;
using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes; // Duration

/// <summary>
///   Minimal Vrp with drop nodes.
/// </summary>
public class VrpDropNodes
{
    class DataModel
    {
        public long[,] DistanceMatrix = {
            { 0, 548, 776, 696, 582, 274, 502, 194, 308, 194, 536, 502, 388, 354, 468, 776, 662 },
            { 548, 0, 684, 308, 194, 502, 730, 354, 696, 742, 1084, 594, 480, 674, 1016, 868, 1210 },
            { 776, 684, 0, 992, 878, 502, 274, 810, 468, 742, 400, 1278, 1164, 1130, 788, 1552, 754 },
            { 696, 308, 992, 0, 114, 650, 878, 502, 844, 890, 1232, 514, 628, 822, 1164, 560, 1358 },
            { 582, 194, 878, 114, 0, 536, 764, 388, 730, 776, 1118, 400, 514, 708, 1050, 674, 1244 },
            { 274, 502, 502, 650, 536, 0, 228, 308, 194, 240, 582, 776, 662, 628, 514, 1050, 708 },
            { 502, 730, 274, 878, 764, 228, 0, 536, 194, 468, 354, 1004, 890, 856, 514, 1278, 480 },
            { 194, 354, 810, 502, 388, 308, 536, 0, 342, 388, 730, 468, 354, 320, 662, 742, 856 },
            { 308, 696, 468, 844, 730, 194, 194, 342, 0, 274, 388, 810, 696, 662, 320, 1084, 514 },
            { 194, 742, 742, 890, 776, 240, 468, 388, 274, 0, 342, 536, 422, 388, 274, 810, 468 },
            { 536, 1084, 400, 1232, 1118, 582, 354, 730, 388, 342, 0, 878, 764, 730, 388, 1152, 354 },
            { 502, 594, 1278, 514, 400, 776, 1004, 468, 810, 536, 878, 0, 114, 308, 650, 274, 844 },
            { 388, 480, 1164, 628, 514, 662, 890, 354, 696, 422, 764, 114, 0, 194, 536, 388, 730 },
            { 354, 674, 1130, 822, 708, 628, 856, 320, 662, 388, 730, 308, 194, 0, 342, 422, 536 },
            { 468, 1016, 788, 1164, 1050, 514, 514, 662, 320, 274, 388, 650, 536, 342, 0, 764, 194 },
            { 776, 868, 1552, 560, 674, 1050, 1278, 742, 1084, 810, 1152, 274, 388, 422, 764, 0, 798 },
            { 662, 1210, 754, 1358, 1244, 708, 480, 856, 514, 468, 354, 844, 730, 536, 194, 798, 0 }
        };
        public long[] Demands = { 0, 1, 1, 3, 6, 3, 6, 8, 8, 1, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8 };
        public long[] VehicleCapacities = { 15, 15, 15, 15 };
        public int VehicleNumber = 4;
        public int Depot = 0;
    };

    /// <summary>
    ///   Print the solution.
    /// </summary>
    static void PrintSolution(in DataModel data, in RoutingModel routing, in RoutingIndexManager manager,
                              in Assignment solution)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Objective {solution.ObjectiveValue()}:");

        // Inspect solution.
        // Display dropped nodes.
        string droppedNodes = "Dropped nodes:";
        for (int index = 0; index < routing.Size(); ++index)
        {
            if (routing.IsStart(index) || routing.IsEnd(index))
            {
                continue;
            }
            if (solution.Value(routing.NextVar(index)) == index)
            {
                droppedNodes += " " + manager.IndexToNode(index);
            }
        }
        Console.WriteLine("{0}", droppedNodes);
        // Inspect solution.
        long totalDistance = 0;
        long totalLoad = 0;
        for (int i = 0; i < data.VehicleNumber; ++i)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Route for Vehicle {0}:", i);
            long routeDistance = 0;
            long routeLoad = 0;
            var index = routing.Start(i);
            while (routing.IsEnd(index) == false)
            {
                long nodeIndex = manager.IndexToNode(index);
                routeLoad += data.Demands[nodeIndex];
                Console.Write("{0} Load({1}) -> ", nodeIndex, routeLoad);
                var previousIndex = index;
                index = solution.Value(routing.NextVar(index));
                routeDistance += routing.GetArcCostForVehicle(previousIndex, index, 0);
            }
            Console.WriteLine("{0}", manager.IndexToNode((int)index));
            Console.WriteLine("Distance of the route: {0}m", routeDistance);
            totalDistance += routeDistance;
            totalLoad += routeLoad;
        }
        Console.WriteLine("Total Distance of all routes: {0}m", totalDistance);
        Console.WriteLine("Total Load of all routes: {0}m", totalLoad);
    }

    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        // Instantiate the data problem.
        DataModel data = new DataModel();

        // Create Routing Index Manager
        RoutingIndexManager manager =
            new RoutingIndexManager(data.DistanceMatrix.GetLength(0), data.VehicleNumber, data.Depot);

        // Create Routing Model.
        RoutingModel routing = new RoutingModel(manager);

        // Create and register a transit callback.
        int transitCallbackIndex = routing.RegisterTransitCallback((long fromIndex, long toIndex) =>
                                                                   {
                                                                       // Convert from routing variable Index to
                                                                       // distance matrix NodeIndex.
                                                                       var fromNode = manager.IndexToNode(fromIndex);
                                                                       var toNode = manager.IndexToNode(toIndex);
                                                                       return data.DistanceMatrix[fromNode, toNode];
                                                                   });

        // Define cost of each arc.
        routing.SetArcCostEvaluatorOfAllVehicles(transitCallbackIndex);

        // Add Capacity constraint.
        int demandCallbackIndex = routing.RegisterUnaryTransitCallback((long fromIndex) =>
                                                                       {
                                                                           // Convert from routing variable Index to
                                                                           // demand NodeIndex.
                                                                           var fromNode =
                                                                               manager.IndexToNode(fromIndex);
                                                                           return data.Demands[fromNode];
                                                                       });
        routing.AddDimensionWithVehicleCapacity(demandCallbackIndex, 0, // null capacity slack
                                                data.VehicleCapacities, // vehicle maximum capacities
                                                true,                   // start cumul to zero
                                                "Capacity");
        // Allow to drop nodes.
        long penalty = 1000;
        for (int i = 1; i < data.DistanceMatrix.GetLength(0); ++i)
        {
            routing.AddDisjunction(new long[] { manager.NodeToIndex(i) }, penalty);
        }

        // Setting first solution heuristic.
        RoutingSearchParameters searchParameters =
            operations_research_constraint_solver.DefaultRoutingSearchParameters();
        searchParameters.FirstSolutionStrategy = FirstSolutionStrategy.Types.Value.PathCheapestArc;
        searchParameters.LocalSearchMetaheuristic = LocalSearchMetaheuristic.Types.Value.GuidedLocalSearch;
        searchParameters.TimeLimit = new Duration { Seconds = 1 };

        // Solve the problem.
        Assignment solution = routing.SolveWithParameters(searchParameters);

        // Print solution on console.
        PrintSolution(data, routing, manager, solution);
    }
}