Optimize Driver Repositioning for Minimal Pickup Time
LyftData Scientist · Onsite
Last updated
This question evaluates spatial algorithms and real-time optimization for ride dispatch together with interval scheduling and capacity planning competencies, covering skills in computational geometry, routing, demand forecasting, and temporal overlap reasoning.
Scenario
Design and implement algorithms for ride-sharing dispatch and capacity planning.
Question
Given historical rider demand density and current driver GPS locations, design an algorithm to reposition drivers in real time to minimize expected pickup time across the city. Given N ride requests defined by start and end timestamps, return the minimum number of drivers required so all rides are served without overlap.
Hints
Discuss greedy vs. optimization approaches, spatial indexing (k-d tree, grid), and complexity; for the second problem think sweep-line or min-heap.
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