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Objectives are parameters that pre-define common optimization targets, such as
shortest travel distance or duration, on time deliveries, balancing loads
between drivers. It's meant to make it easier for developers to onboard to Route
Optimization API before learning the sophications and full customization of cost
parameters. (See "cost model" for how to fully customize your wide variety of objectives)
When set, theShipmentModel.objectivesoverwrite the cost model
completely, therefore they are incompatible with pre-existing costs. EachObjectivemaps to a number of predefined costs for vehicles, shipments or
transition attributes.
When specifying theTRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUESTsolving mode,
the request is not solved and it is only validated and filled with costs
corresponding to the given objectives. The modified request is returned asOptimizeToursResponse.processed_request. All other solve modes will
return the solved request.
TheTRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUESTsolving mode is only valid forOptimizeToursrequests and is not available for other Route Optimization API
requests.
Example: Make aShipmentModel.objectivesrequest
Before making a request, complete the following steps:
SetPROJECT_NUMBER_OR_IDto your Cloud
project number or ID.
The following command sends anOptimizeToursRequestto the
Route Optimization API which returns anOptimizeToursResponsewith theProcessedRequestfield set.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-09-04 UTC."],[],[],null,["\u003cbr /\u003e\n\n| This product or feature is Experimental (pre-GA). Pre-GA products and features might have limited support, and changes to pre-GA products and features might not be compatible with other pre-GA versions. Pre-GA Offerings are covered by the [Google\n| Maps Platform Service Specific Terms](https://cloud.google.com/maps-platform/terms/maps-service-terms). For more information, see the [launch stage descriptions](/maps/launch-stages).\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nObjectives are parameters that pre-define common optimization targets, such as\nshortest travel distance or duration, on time deliveries, balancing loads\nbetween drivers. It's meant to make it easier for developers to onboard to Route\nOptimization API before learning the sophications and full customization of cost\nparameters. (See \"[`cost model`](/maps/documentation/route-optimization/concepts/costs)\" for how to fully customize your wide variety of objectives)\n\nWhen set, the [`ShipmentModel.objectives`](/maps/tt/route-optimization/experimental/objectives/reference/rpc/google.maps.routeoptimization.v1#shipmentmodel) overwrite the cost model\ncompletely, therefore they are incompatible with pre-existing costs. Each\n[`Objective`](/maps/tt/route-optimization/experimental/objectives/reference/rpc/google.maps.routeoptimization.v1#objective) maps to a number of predefined costs for vehicles, shipments or\ntransition attributes.\n| **Note:** `OptimizeToursRequests` that have both costs and objectives set are invalid and will be rejected with a validation error.\n\nWhen specifying the [`TRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUEST`](/maps/tt/route-optimization/experimental/objectives/reference/rpc/google.maps.routeoptimization.v1#solvingmode) solving mode,\nthe request is not solved and it is only validated and filled with costs\ncorresponding to the given objectives. The modified request is returned as\n[`OptimizeToursResponse.processed_request`](/maps/tt/route-optimization/experimental/objectives/reference/rpc/google.maps.routeoptimization.v1#optimizetoursresponse). All other solve modes will\nreturn the solved request.\n| **Note:** `TRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUEST` requests are not billed.\n\nThe `TRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUEST` solving mode is only valid for\n`OptimizeTours` requests and is not available for other Route Optimization API\nrequests.\n\nExample: Make a `ShipmentModel.objectives` request\n\nBefore making a request, complete the following steps:\n\n- Ensure you have [Application Default Credentials](https://cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/provide-credentials-adc) configured as described in [Use OAuth](/maps/documentation/route-optimization/oauth-token).\n- Set \u003cvar label=\"project_number\" translate=\"no\"\u003ePROJECT_NUMBER_OR_ID\u003c/var\u003e to your Cloud\n project number or ID.\n\n The following command sends an `OptimizeToursRequest` to the\n Route Optimization API which returns an `OptimizeToursResponse`. \n\n ```carbon\n curl -X POST 'https://routeoptimization.googleapis.com/v1/projects/\u003cvar label=\"project_number\" translate=\"no\"\u003ePROJECT_NUMBER_OR_ID\u003c/var\u003e:optimizeTours' \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $(gcloud auth application-default print-access-token)\" \\\n --data @- \u003c\u003cEOM\n {\n \"model\": {\n \"shipments\": [\n {\n \"pickups\": [\n {\n \"arrivalLocation\": {\n \"latitude\": 37.42506261000996,\n \"longitude\": -122.09535511930135\n }\n }\n ],\n \"deliveries\": [\n {\n \"arrivalLocation\": {\n \"latitude\": 37.42421503206021,\n \"longitude\": -122.09526063135228\n }\n }\n ]\n }\n ],\n \"vehicles\": [\n {\n \"travelMode\": \"DRIVING\",\n }\n ],\n \"objectives\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"MIN_TRAVEL_TIME\"\n }\n ],\n }\n }\n EOM\n ```\n | **Note:** This example uses the `--data @-` to read a request from standard input. Use `--data @`\u003cvar label=\"curl_filename\" translate=\"no\"\u003eFilename\u003c/var\u003e to read from a file.\n\nExample: Make a `TRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUEST` request\n\nBefore making a request, complete the following steps:\n\n- Ensure you have [Application Default Credentials](https://cloud.google.com/docs/authentication/provide-credentials-adc) configured as described in [Use OAuth](/maps/documentation/route-optimization/oauth-token).\n- Set \u003cvar label=\"project_number\" translate=\"no\"\u003ePROJECT_NUMBER_OR_ID\u003c/var\u003e to your Cloud\n project number or ID.\n\n The following command sends an `OptimizeToursRequest` to the\n Route Optimization API which returns an `OptimizeToursResponse` with the\n [`ProcessedRequest`](/maps/tt/route-optimization/experimental/objectives/reference/rpc/google.maps.routeoptimization.v1#optimizetoursresponse) field set. \n\n ```carbon\n curl -X POST 'https://routeoptimization.googleapis.com/v1/projects/\u003cvar label=\"project_number\" translate=\"no\"\u003ePROJECT_NUMBER_OR_ID\u003c/var\u003e:optimizeTours' \\\n -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n -H \"Authorization: Bearer $(gcloud auth application-default print-access-token)\" \\\n --data @- \u003c\u003cEOM\n {\n \"model\": {\n \"shipments\": [\n {\n \"pickups\": [\n {\n \"arrivalLocation\": {\n \"latitude\": 37.42506261000996,\n \"longitude\": -122.09535511930135\n }\n }\n ],\n \"deliveries\": [\n {\n \"arrivalLocation\": {\n \"latitude\": 37.42421503206021,\n \"longitude\": -122.09526063135228\n }\n }\n ]\n }\n ],\n \"vehicles\": [\n {\n \"travelMode\": \"DRIVING\",\n }\n ],\n \"objectives\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"MIN_TRAVEL_TIME\"\n }\n ]\n },\n \"solvingMode\": \"TRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUEST\"\n }\n EOM\n ```\n The previous command will produce a similar response to the following. \n\n ```\n {\n \"processedRequest\": {\n \"model\": {\n \"shipments\": [\n {\n \"pickups\": [\n {\n \"arrivalLocation\": {\n \"latitude\": 37.425062610009959,\n \"longitude\": -122.09535511930135\n }\n }\n ],\n \"deliveries\": [\n {\n \"arrivalLocation\": {\n \"latitude\": 37.424215032060211,\n \"longitude\": -122.09526063135228\n }\n }\n ]\n }\n ],\n \"vehicles\": [\n {\n \"travelMode\": \"DRIVING\",\n \"costPerHour\": 30,\n \"costPerTraveledHour\": 330,\n \"costPerKilometer\": 0.2\n }\n ],\n \"objectives\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"MIN_TRAVEL_TIME\"\n }\n ]\n },\n \"solvingMode\": \"TRANSFORM_AND_RETURN_REQUEST\"\n }\n }\n ```\n | **Note:** This example uses the `--data @-` to read a request from standard input. Use `--data @`\u003cvar label=\"curl_filename\" translate=\"no\"\u003eFilename\u003c/var\u003e to read from a file."]]