A competitive and cooperative co-evolutionary approach to multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm design

Multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) is an optimization technique inspired by bird flocking, which has been steadily gaining attention from the research community because of its high convergence speed. On the other hand, in the face of increasing complexity and dimensionality of today’s application coupled with its tendency of premature convergence due to the high convergence speeds, there is a need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of MOPSO. In this paper a competitive and cooperative co-evolutionary approach is adapted for multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm design, which appears to have considerable potential for solving complex optimization problems by explicitly modeling the co-evolution of competing and cooperating species. The competitive and cooperative co-evolution model helps to produce the reasonable problem decompositions by exploiting any correlation, interdependency between components of the problem. The proposed competitive and cooperative co-evolutionary multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (CCPSO) is validated through comparisons with existing state-of-the-art multi-objective algorithms using established benchmarks and metrics. Simulation results demonstrated that CCPSO shows competitive, if not better, performance as compared to the other algorithms.     

Online surrogate multiobjective optimization algorithm for contaminated groundwater remediation designs

This paper proposes an online surrogate model-assisted multiobjective optimization framework to identify optimal remediation strategies for groundwater contaminated with dense non-aqueous phase liquids. The optimization involves three objectives: minimizing the remediation cost and duration and maximizing the contamination removal rate. The proposed framework adopts a multiobjective feasibility-enhanced particle swarm optimization algorithm to solve the optimization model and uses an online surrogate model as a substitute for the time-consuming multiphase flow model for calculating contamination removal rates during the optimization process. The resulting approach allows decision makers to find a balance among the remediation cost, remediation duration and contamination removal rate for remediating contaminated groundwater. The new algorithm is compared with the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II, which is an extensively applied and well-known algorithm. The results show that the Pareto solutions obtained by the new algorithm have greater diversity and stability than those obtained by the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II, indicating that the new algorithm is more applicable than the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II for optimizing remediation strategies for contaminated groundwater. Additionally, the surrogate model and Pareto optimal set obtained by the proposed framework are compared with those of the offline surrogate model-assisted multiobjective optimization framework. The results indicate that the surrogate model accuracy and Pareto front achieved by the proposed framework outperform those of the offline surrogate model-assisted optimization framework. Thus, we conclude that the proposed framework can effectively enhance the surrogate model accuracy and further extend the comprehensive performance of Pareto solutions.     

Swarm approach based on gravity for optimizing energy savings in grid systems

Execution time optimization is one of the most important objectives to accomplish for experiments launched on grid environments. However, the computing community is becoming more conscious about energy savings, seeking their optimization. In this work, both execution time and energy consumption are optimized through two swarm and multi-objective algorithms based on both physics and biology fields. On the one hand, multi-objective gravitational search algorithm (MOGSA) is inspired by the gravity forces between the planet masses. On the other hand, Multi-Objective Firefly Algorithm is based on the light attraction between the fireflies. These swarm algorithms are compared with the standard multi-objective algorithm non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II to study their efficiency as multi-objective algorithms. Moreover, the best algorithm proposed, MOGSA, is compared with MOHEFT (a multi-objective version of one of the most-used algorithms in workflow scheduling, HEFT), and also with two real grid schedulers: Workload Management System and deadline budget constraint. Results show the superior performance of MOGSA regarding the others.     

A method for member selection of cross-functional teams using the individual and collaborative performances

The member selection problem is an important aspect of the formation of cross-functional teams (CFTs). Selecting suitable members from a set of candidates will facilitate the successful task accomplishment. In the existing studies of member selection, the individual performance concerning a single candidate is mostly used, whereas the collaborative performance associating with a pair of candidates is overlooked. In this paper, as a solution to this problem, we propose a method for member selection of CFTs, where both the individual performance of candidates and the collaborative performance between candidates are considered. In order to select the desired members, firstly, a multi-objective 0–1 programming model is built using the individual and collaborative performances, which is an NP-hard problem. To solve the model, we develop an improved nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (INSGA-II). Furthermore, a real example is employed to illustrate the suitability of the proposed method. Additionally, extensive computational experiments to compare INSGA-II with the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) are conducted and much better performance of INSGA-II is observed.     

Multiobjective big data optimization based on a hybrid salp swarm algorithm and differential evolution

This paper developed a multiobjective Big Data optimization approach based on a hybrid salp swarm algorithm and the differential evolution algorithm. The role of the differential evolution algorithm is to enhance the capability of the feature exploitation of the salp swarm algorithm because the operators of the differential evolution algorithm are used as local search operators. In general, the proposed method contains three stages. In the first stage, the population is generated, and the archive is initialized. The second stage updates the solutions using the hybrid salp swarm algorithm and the differential evolution algorithm, and the final stage determines the nondominated solutions and updates the archive. To assess the performance of the proposed approach, a series of experiments were performed. A set of single-objective and multiobjective problems from the 2015 Big Data optimization competition were tested; the dataset contained data with and without noise. The results of our experiments illustrated that the proposed approach outperformed other approaches, including the baseline nondominated sorting genetic algorithm, on all test problems. Moreover, for single-objective problems, the score value of the proposed method was better than that of the traditional multiobjective salp swarm algorithm. When compared with both algorithms, that is, the adaptive DE algorithm with external archive and the hybrid multiobjective firefly algorithm, its score was the largest. In contrast, for the multiobjective functions, the scores of the proposed algorithm were higher than that of the fireworks algorithm framework.     

多目标0-1规划问题的蜂群算法

针对多目标0-1规划问题,本文给出一种新型的智能优化算法——蜂群算法进行求解,并通过实例验证,与遗传算法、蚁群算法和元胞蚁群算法作了相应比较。就多目标0-1规划问题而言,蜂群算法能得到更多的Pareto解,说明了蜂群算法在解决该类问题上的有效性。     

双目标可重入混合流水车间调度问题的离散灰狼优化算法

可重入混合流水车间调度问题普遍存在于许多高科技制造产业中,如半导体晶圆制造和TFT-LCD面板生产过程等,但目前关于可重入调度问题的相关研究还比较少。本文设计了一种改进多目标灰狼优化算法(IMOGWO)解决最小化最大完工时间和总拖期时间最小的可重入混合流水车间调度问题,针对该问题特点对基本灰狼优化算法进行了一系列改进操作。通过对小规模测试问题基准算例的数值实验,验证了所设计的IMOGWO算法求解该调度问题的有效性。实验结果表明IMOGWO算法在非劣解的收敛性和支配性方面显著优于已有的NSGA-II和MOGWO算法,在解的分布性指标方面IMOGWO稍微优于其他两种算法。     

一种改进粒子群优化算法及其在投资规划中的应用

粒子群优化算法(PSO)是模拟生物群体智能的优化算法,具有良好的优化性能.但是群体收缩过快和群体多样性降低导致早熟收敛.本文引入了多样性指标和收敛因子模型来改进PSO算法,形成多样性收敛因子PSO算法(DCPSO),并且对现代资产投资的多目标规划问题进行了优化,简化了多目标规划的问题,并且表现出了比传统PSO算法更好性能.     

An efficient multi-objective PSO algorithm assisted by Kriging metamodel for expensive black-box problems

The huge computational overhead is the main challenge in the application of community based optimization methods, such as multi-objective particle swarm optimization and multi-objective genetic algorithm, to deal with the multi-objective optimization involving costly simulations. This paper proposes a Kriging metamodel assisted multi-objective particle swarm optimization method to solve this kind of expensively black-box multi-objective optimization problems. On the basis of crowding distance based multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm, the new proposed method constructs Kriging metamodel for each expensive objective function adaptively, and then the non-dominated solutions of the metamodels are utilized to guide the update of particle population. To reduce the computational cost, the generalized expected improvements of each particle predicted by metamodels are presented to determine which particles need to perform actual function evaluations. The suggested method is tested on 12 benchmark functions and compared with the original crowding distance based multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II algorithm. The test results show that the application of Kriging metamodel improves the search ability and reduces the number of evaluations. Additionally, the new proposed method is applied to the optimal design of a cycloid gear pump and achieves desirable results.     

基于群智能算法的预防性维修周期优化

分析将蚁群优化算法应用于预防性维修周期工程寻优问题时遇到的算法参数选择困难等问题,提出将粒子群优化算法和空间划分方法引入该过程以改进原蚁群算法的寻优规则和历程.建立混合粒子群和蚁群算法的群智能优化策略:PS_ACO(Particle Swarm and Ant Colony Optimization),并将其应用于混联系统预防性维修周期优化过程中,以解决由于蚁群算法中参数选择不当和随机产生维修周期解值带来的求解精度差、寻优效率低等问题.算法的寻优结果对比分析表明:该PS_ACO算法应用于预防性维修周期优化问题,在寻优效率及寻优精度上有部分改进,且可相对削弱算法参数选择对优化结果的影响.     

A Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm with Path Relinking for the Location Routing Problem

This paper introduces a new hybrid algorithmic nature inspired approach based on particle swarm optimization, for solving successfully one of the most popular logistics management problems, the location routing problem (LRP). The proposed algorithm for the solution of the location routing problem, the hybrid particle swarm optimization (HybPSO-LRP), combines a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, the multiple phase neighborhood search – greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (MPNS-GRASP) algorithm, the expanding neighborhood search (ENS) strategy and a path relinking (PR) strategy. The algorithm is tested on a set of benchmark instances. The results of the algorithm are very satisfactory for these instances and for six of them a new best solution has been found.      

A powerful and efficient algorithm for numerical function optimization: artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm

Swarm intelligence is a research branch that models the population of interacting agents or swarms that are able to self-organize. An ant colony, a flock of birds or an immune system is a typical example of a swarm system. Bees’ swarming around their hive is another example of swarm intelligence. Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) Algorithm is an optimization algorithm based on the intelligent behaviour of honey bee swarm. In this work, ABC algorithm is used for optimizing multivariable functions and the results produced by ABC, Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Algorithm (PSO) and Particle Swarm Inspired Evolutionary Algorithm (PS-EA) have been compared. The results showed that ABC outperforms the other algorithms.     

Multi-objective open shop scheduling by considering human error and preventive maintenance

This study presents an open shop scheduling model by considering human error and preventive maintenance. The proposed mathematical model takes into account conflicting objective functions including makespan, human error and machine availability. In order to find the optimum scheduling, human error, maintenance and production factors are considered, simultaneously. Human error is measured by Human Error Assessment and Reduction Technique (HEART). Three metaheuristic methods including non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II), multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) and strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm II (SPEA-II) are developed to find near-optimal solution. The Taguchi method is applied by adjusting parameters of metaheuristic algorithms. Several illustrative examples and a real case study (auto spare parts manufacturer) are applied to show the applicability of the multi-objective mixed integer nonlinear programming model. The proposed approach of this study may be used for similar open shop problems with minor modifications.     

Genetic algorithm approach on multi-criteria minimum spanning tree problem

Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) problem is of high importance in network optimization. The multi-criteria MST (mc-MST) is a more realistic representation of the practical problem in the real world, but it is difficult for the traditional network optimization technique to deal with. In this paper, a genetic algorithm (GA) approach is developed to deal with this problem. Without neglecting its network topology, the proposed method adopts the Prüfer number as the tree encoding and applies the Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique and nondominated sorting technique to make the GA search give out all Pareto optimal solutions either focused on the region near the ideal point or distributed all along the Pareto frontier. Compared with the enumeration method of Pareto optimal solution, the numerical analysis shows the efficiency and effectiveness of the GA approach on the mc-MST problem.     

Fuzzy criteria for feature selection

The presence of less relevant or highly correlated features often decrease classification accuracy. Feature selection in which most informative variables are selected for model generation is an important step in data-driven modeling. In feature selection, one often tries to satisfy multiple criteria such as feature discriminating power, model performance or subset cardinality. Therefore, a multi-objective formulation of the feature selection problem is more appropriate. In this paper, we propose to use fuzzy criteria in feature selection by using a fuzzy decision making framework. This formulation allows for a more flexible definition of the goals in feature selection, and avoids the problem of weighting different goals is classical multi-objective optimization. The optimization problem is solved using an ant colony optimization algorithm proposed in our previous work. We illustrate the added value of the approach by applying our proposed fuzzy feature selection algorithm to eight benchmark problems.     

A new mechanism to maintain diversity in multi-objective metaheuristics

In this article, a new mechanism to spread the solutions generated by a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is proposed. This approach is based on the use of stripes that are applied in objective function space and is independent of the search engine adopted. Additionally, it overcomes some of the drawbacks of other previous proposals such as the ?-dominance method. In order to validate the proposed approach, it is coupled to a multi-objective particle swarm optimizer and its performance is assessed with respect to that of state-of-the-art algorithms, using standard test problems and performance measures taken from the specialized literature. The results indicate that the proposed approach is a viable diversity maintenance mechanism that can be incorporated to any multi-objective metaheuristic used for multi-objective optimization.     

Gbest-guided artificial bee colony algorithm for numerical function optimization

Artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm invented recently by Karaboga is a biological-inspired optimization algorithm, which has been shown to be competitive with some conventional biological-inspired algorithms, such as genetic algorithm (GA), differential evolution (DE) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). However, there is still an insufficiency in ABC algorithm regarding its solution search equation, which is good at exploration but poor at exploitation. Inspired by PSO, we propose an improved ABC algorithm called gbest-guided ABC (GABC) algorithm by incorporating the information of global best (gbest) solution into the solution search equation to improve the exploitation. The experimental results tested on a set of numerical benchmark functions show that GABC algorithm can outperform ABC algorithm in most of the experiments.     

基于人机交互—蚁群算法的港口疏船调度优化

为解决因港口无法正常作业导致大量船舶压港后的疏船调度问题,从同时兼顾船公司和港口方利益出发,建立了船舶平均在港时间最短、额外作业成本最低、生产秩序恢复最快的调度生产多目标优化模型。利用多属性效用理论将多目标转换为单目标,并构建了相应的评价函数,采用改进的蚁群算法并结合人机交互以及邻域搜索方法求解,最后以大连港集装箱码头实际案例进行验证。结果表明,与通常调度方法相比,文中建立的优化模型能够更好地解决疏船问题;对比常规的蚁群算法,改进后的算法搜索效率更高。上述模型和算法为集装箱码头的生产组织调度提供了新的优化思路和方法。     

基于可信性理论的均值-熵-偏度投资组合模型及其算法求解

本文考虑到证券市场的投资者往往面临着随机和模糊两种不确定性的情形,在模糊随机环境下把证券的收益率视作三角模糊变量,在可信性理论基础上建立了带融资约束条件的均值-熵-偏度三目标投资组合决策模型,拓展了基于可信性理论的投资组合决策模型的研究内容,同时通过对约束条件处理方法,外部档案维护方法等关键算子的改良,提出了一种新的约束多目标粒子群算法。本文运用该算法对模型进行求解,把得到的最优解与传统的多目标粒子群算法得到的最优解进行对比,结果表明新算法得到的最优解的质量会显著地优于传统的多目标粒子群算法的最优解,从而验证了算法的有效性和准确性。该算法可以在三维空间中得到一个分布性和逼近性较好的Pareto最优曲面,满足投资者对不同目标的差异需求,为投资者提供合理的投资组合决策方案。     

Primal and dual multi-objective linear programming algorithms for linear multiplicative programmes

Multiplicative programming problems (MPPs) are global optimization problems known to be NP-hard. In this paper, we employ algorithms developed to compute the entire set of nondominated points of multi-objective linear programmes (MOLPs) to solve linear MPPs. First, we improve our own objective space cut and bound algorithm for convex MPPs in the special case of linear MPPs by only solving one linear programme in each iteration, instead of two as the previous version indicates. We call this algorithm, which is based on Benson’s outer approximation algorithm for MOLPs, the primal objective space algorithm. Then, based on the dual variant of Benson’s algorithm, we propose a dual objective space algorithm for solving linear MPPs. The dual algorithm also requires solving only one linear programme in each iteration. We prove the correctness of the dual algorithm and use computational experiments comparing our algorithms to a recent global optimization algorithm for linear MPPs from the literature as well as two general global optimization solvers to demonstrate the superiority of the new algorithms in terms of computation time. Thus, we demonstrate that the use of multi-objective optimization techniques can be beneficial to solve difficult single objective global optimization problems.