Genetic Algorithms and Walsh Functions: Part I, A Gentle Introduction

This paper investigates the application of Walsh functions to the analysis of genetic algorithms operating on different codingfunct ion combinations. Although these analysis tools have been in existence for some time, they have not been widely used. To promote their understanding and use, this paper introduces Bethke's Walshschema transform through the Walsh polynomials. This form of the method provides an intuitive basis for visualizing the nonlinearities being considered, thereby permitting the consideration of a number of useful extensions to the theory in Part II.