GENETIC ALGORITHMS

Modelling nature for engineering solutions

EJJ 210

Fouche, GJ
13004019

GENETIC ALGORITHMS
Introduction
Basis
Advantages
How the Algorithm Works
Algorithm Operators
Real world Applications
Use in Antenna Design
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION WHAT ARE GAS ?

Genetic Algorithms are a Darwinian naturalselection based search heuristic used to evolve
solutions to abstracted problems.

First tested in 1954

BASIS OF GENETIC ALGORITHMS

Based on Darwin's principle of
Natural selection
The idea of Survival of the Fittest
Development of advantageous attributes through
survival over generations
The use of operators like Genetic crossover,
mutation and fitness evaluation to evolve a
robust solution to the problem
Information on the solution is represented as a
line of Genes in a Chromosome
Easy to code in an object orientated language

ADVANTAGES OF GAS ?
Good at navigating huge search spaces, looking for
optimal combinations to form a solution to the task at
hand.
Particularly useful when the solution cannot be
derived mathematically
Because solutions are abstracted, genetic algorithms
are applicable to many areas of engineering,
intelligent and complex systems.
Solutions rated and evolved according to an objective
and variable fitness criteria
Limited only by computational power.
Their strongest attribute is being based on a system
that already works so perfectly nature.

ALGORITHM OPERATORS CHROMOSOME

The Chromosome is the way that information is
represented, and it contains the steps of the
solution.
In G.A. Chromosomes are simply long arrays of
Genes that encode information
Each Gene represents an encoded step, or
characteristic. Often a binary representation.

ALGORITHM OPERATORS &

FITNESS EVALUATION

A fitness function is simply an objective measure

of a Chromosomes fitness with regard to the
problem at hand.
The general idea is to give a higher fitness score
the closer a chromosome comes to solving the
problem.

APPLICATIONS OF GENETIC
ALGORITHMS
Stock Trading
Control System debugging
Evolving Medicines (IcoSystem)
Airline route optimization
Antenna design
Efficient wind turbine design
The training of Artificial
Intelligence networks
Many more...

USE IN ANTENNA DESIGN

In the past few years, Genetic Algorithms have

been used to evolve antenna designs primarily
with unusual design requirements, such as
unusual radiation patterns.
Example: Antennae on the NASA ST5 satellites
Its unusual a-symmetric design would have been
impossible to design using manual methods.

CONCLUSION