Quasi-random initial population for genetic algorithms

• The selection of the initial population in a population-based heuristic optimizationmethod is important, since it affects the search for several iterations and often has an influence on the final solution. If no a priori information about the optima is available, the initial population is often selected randomly using pseudorandom numbers. Usually, however, it is more important that the points are as evenly distributed as possible than that they imitate random points. In this paper, we study the use of quasi-random sequences in the initial population of a genetic algorithm. Sample points in a quasi-random sequence are designed to have good distribution properties. Here a modified genetic algorithm using quasi-random sequences in the initial population is tested by solving a large number of continuous benchmark problems from the literature. The numerical results of two implementations of genetic algorithms using different quasi-random sequences are compared to those of a traditional implementation using pseudorandom numbers. The results obtained are promising.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Matematik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Mathematics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Random numbers

Quasi-random sequences

Global continuous optimization

Genetic algorithms

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