From: volker@ecrc.de (Volker Kuechenhoff)
Subject: Re: genetic algorithm
Summary: 10-line introduction to GA
Keywords: GA, Lit, Software, GA-Digest
Reply-To: volker@ecrc.de
Organization: European Computer industry Research Centre GmbH.
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 08:22:43 GMT

In article 36869@sdcc12.ucsd.edu, arao@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Andy Rao    ) writes:
>Can anybody shed some light on genetic algorithims?  These are
>algorithims that alters themselves to suit a particular problem,
>much like how an organism evolves to adapt to a particular
>environment.  the subject fascinates me but i am starting at the
>bottom......(also, know of any good books on the subject?)

The genetic algorithm is a so called 'novel search technique'. 
The idea for the genetic algorithm is derived from the concept of evolution as
(supposedly) happening in nature. A set of individuals is faced with an
environment. In a  survival of the fittest scheme only the best individuals survive. 
They are allowed to mate and recombine their (genetic) knowledge. The idea is that
they will eventually adapt to the environment in a sense that they represent
good individuals in that environment. 

The algorithm has been introduced by Holland \cite{Holland75}. During the last
years the algorithm has received considerable interest. 
A wide variety of applications have been suggested. Most interesting are those
applications which could not be solved well with 
traditional calculus-based or other enumerative techniques. Examples range
from function optimization \cite{Muehlbein92par} and program synthesis
problems  \cite{Kue} to the optimization of robot trajectories \cite{Davidor90weiz}.
Routing and scheduling applications in the context of a rail freight
transportation network have been considered by \cite{Gabbert91ga}.

A standard introductory book has been written by Goldberg \cite{Goldberg89}.

I recommend to subscribe to the GA-Digest:
>>
Genetic Algorithms Digest   Friday, July 31 1992   Volume 6 : Issue 28

 - Send submissions to GA-List@AIC.NRL.NAVY.MIL
 - Send administrative requests to GA-List-Request@AIC.NRL.NAVY.MIL
 - anonymous ftp archive: FTP.AIC.NRL.NAVY.MIL (see v6n5 for details)

Today's Topics:
	- Re: The Evolution Machine; authors' addresses
	- Need info on fitting parameters to set of data
	- GA testing tool request
	- TCGA and ICGA publicity chair change of address
	- AISB'93: Revised Submission Date
<<

There is also quite a number of software packages available (for free). See the
overview compiled by Nici Schraudolph.
>>
>>From: schraudo@cs.UCSD.EDU (Nici Schraudolph)
>>To: GA-List@aic.nrl.navy.mil
>>Subject: updated GA software survey


Have fun,

	Volker


PS: Personally I am working on how this search mechanism can be combined with 
constraint reasoning.

REFERENCES:

@book{Holland87,
	Author={J. Holland and K. Holyoak and R. Nisbett and P. Thagard},
	title={Induction},
	publisher={MIT-Press},
	year=1987}

@book{Holland75,
	author={J.H. Holland},
	title={Adaption in natural and artificial systems},
	publisher ={Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press},
	year=1975}


@techreport{Davidor90weiz,
	author={Y. Davidor},
	title={An intuitive introduction to Genetic Algorithms as Adaptive
Optimizing Procedures},
	institution={Weizman Institute of Science},
	type={Technical Report {CS} 90-07},
	month=apr,
	year=1990}


@inproceedings{Gabbert91ga,
	Author={P. Gabbert and D. Brown and C. Huntley and B. Markowicz and D. Sapptington},
	Title={A System for Learning Routes and Schedules with Genetic Algorithms},
	booktitle=ga91p,
	address=ga91l,
	publisher=ga91pub,
	editor=ga91edi,
	month=jul,
	year=1991}


@book{Goldberg89,
	Author="David E. Goldberg",
	Title={Genetic Algorithms in Search, Optimization, and Machine Learning},
	Publisher="Addison-Wesley",
	address="Reading, Ma",
	year=1989}


@mastersthesis{Kue,
	author="Volker K{\"{u}}chenhoff",
	Title={Synthesis of Prolog Programs by Knowledge Guided
Genetical Learning},
	school="Technische Universitaet",
	address="Munich, Germany",
	year=1986}

@article{Muehlbein92par,
	author={Heinz M{\"{u}}hlenbein and M. Schomisch and J. Born},
	title={The parallel genetic algorithm as Funciton optimizer},
	journal={Parallel Computing},
	year=1992}

---
Volker Kuechenhoff,
European Computer Industry Research Centre      Tel. + (49) 89-92699-155
Arabellastr 17, 8000 Muenchen 81. Germany.	FAX. + (49) 89-92699-170

e-mail   volker@ecrc.de   


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