A co-evolutionary multi-agent system for multi-modal function optimization

Abstract

Niching methods for evolutionary algorithms are used in order to locate all desired peaks of multi-modal landscape. Co-evolutionary techniques are aimed at overcoming limited adaptive capacity of evolutionary algorithms resulting from the loss of useful diversity of population. In this paper the idea of niching co-evolutionary multi-agent system (NCoEMAS) is introduced. In such a system the niche formation phenomena occurs within one of the preexisting species as a result of coevolutionary interactions. Also, results from runs of NCoEMAS against Rastrigin function and the comparison to other niching techniques are presented. © Springer-Verlag 2004.