Aeronave KC-2 empregada em apoio logístico militar no combate à COVID-19: uma abordagem à luz do Travelling Salesman Problem

Abstract

The number of cases of COVID-19 in Brazil and worldwide in the last two years has brought to light great concern to the population and the government, especially in the states most affected by the pandemic. This paper aimed to propose a strategy, through the application of the mathematical modeling of the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP), for the distribution of medications, respirators, and supplies in the Brazilian states most affected by the pandemic. To this end, it was suggested the use of the KC-2 aircraft, in the modernizing process by the Brazilian Navy. To structure the problem, the Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) method was applied, in addition to consulting public health specialists. The TSP was applied to propose an optimized route to provide logistical support to the 10 states most affected by the pandemic. The methodology presented can be replicated for various types of tactical, operational, and strategic problems, presenting relevance to academia, military, and society.