Hierarchical Genetic Algorithms

Current Genetic Algorithms can efficiently address order-k separable problems, in which the order of the linkage is restricted to a low value k. Outside this class, there exist hierarchical problems that cannot be addressed by current genetic algorithms, yet can be addressed efficiently in principle by exploiting hierarchy. We delineate the class of hierarchical problems, and describe a framework for Hierarchical Genetic Algorithms. Based on this outline for algorithms, we investigate under what conditions hierarchical problems may be solved efficiently. Sufficient conditions are provided under which hierarchical problems can be addressed in polynomial time. The analysis points to the importance of efficient sampling techniques that assess the quality of module settings.

[1]  David E. Goldberg,et al.  The Design of Innovation , 2002, Genetic Algorithms and Evolutionary Computation.

[2]  Herbert A. Simon,et al.  The Sciences of the Artificial , 1970 .

[3]  Jordan B. Pollack,et al.  Modeling Building-Block Interdependency , 1998, PPSN.

[4]  Robert S. H. Istepanian,et al.  Teleoperation controller design using hierarchical genetic algorithm , 2000, Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology 2000 (IEEE Cat. No.00TH8482).

[5]  J. Pollack,et al.  Compositional evolution: interdisciplinary investigations in evolvability, modularity, and symbiosis , 2002 .

[6]  David E. Goldberg,et al.  Hierarchical Problem Solving and the Bayesian Optimization Algorithm , 2000, GECCO.

[7]  Dirk Thierens,et al.  Exploiting Modularity, Hierarchy, and Repetition in Variable-Length Problems , 2004, GECCO.

[8]  Dirk Thierens,et al.  Mixing in Genetic Algorithms , 1993, ICGA.

[9]  David E. Goldberg,et al.  The Design of Innovation: Lessons from and for Competent Genetic Algorithms , 2002 .

[10]  Alice E. Smith,et al.  A Hierarchical Genetic Algorithm for System Identification and Curve Fitting with a Supercomputer Implementation , 1999 .

[11]  D. Goldberg,et al.  Escaping hierarchical traps with competent genetic algorithms , 2001 .

[12]  J. Pollack,et al.  A computational model of symbiotic composition in evolutionary transitions. , 2003, Bio Systems.

[13]  Dirk Thierens,et al.  Scalability Problems of Simple Genetic Algorithms , 1999, Evolutionary Computation.

[14]  Erik D. Goodman,et al.  The hierarchical fair competition (HFC) model for parallel evolutionary algorithms , 2002, Proceedings of the 2002 Congress on Evolutionary Computation. CEC'02 (Cat. No.02TH8600).