Wise breeding GA via machine learning techniques for function optimization

Abstract

This paper explores how inductive machine learning can guide the breeding process of evolutionary algorithms for black-box function optimization. In particular, decision trees are used to identify the underlying characteristics of good and bad individuals, using the mined knowledge for wise breeding purposes. Inductive learning is complemented with statistical learning in order to define the breeding process. The proposed evolutionary process optimizes the fitness function in a dual manner, both maximizing and minimizing it. The paper also summarize some tuning and population sizing issues, as well as some preliminary results obtained using the proposed algorithm. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.