Genetic Algorithms (GA) as a tool for a search and optimizing methodology has now reached a mature stage. It has found many useful applications in both the scientific and engineering arenas. The main reason for this success is undoubtedly due to the advances that have been made in solid-state microelectronics fabrication that have, in turn, led to the proliferation of widely available, low cost, and speedy computers. The GA works on the Darwinian principle of natural selection for which the noted English philosopher, Herbert Spencer coined the phrase "Survival of the fittest". As a numerical optimizer, the solutions obtained by the GA are not mathematically oriented. Instead, GA possesses an intrinsic flexibility and the freedom to choose desirable optima according to design specifications. Whether the criteria of concern be nonlinear, constrained, discrete, multimodal, or NP hard, the GA is entirely equal to the challenge. In fact, because of the uniqueness of the evolutionary process and the gene structure of a chromosome, the GA processing mechanism can take the form ofparallelism and multiobjective. These provide an extra dimension for solutions where other techniques may have failed completely. It is, therefore, the aim ofthis booktogather together relevant GA materialthat has already been used and demonstrated in various engineering disciplines.
The practical application of genetic algorithms to the solution of engineering problems, has rapidly become an established approach in the fields of control and signal processing. Genetic Algorithms provides comprehensive coverage of the techniques involved, describing the intrinsic characteristics, advantages and constraints of genetic algorithms, as well as discussing genetic operations such as crossover, mutation and reinsertion. In addition, the principle of multiobjective optimization and computing parallelism are discussed. The use of genetic algorithms in many areas of interest in control and signal processing is detailed; among the areas of application are:
• filtering;
• H-infinity control;
• speech recognition;
• production planning and scheduling;
• computational intelligence; and
• communication systems.
Also described is an original hierarchical genetic algorithm designed to address the problems in determining system topology.
The authors provide "A Game of Genetic Creatures", a fundamental study for GA based on computer-generated insects to demonstrate some of the ideas developed in the text as a download available from www.springer.com/1-85233-072-4.
This superb book is suitable for readers from a wide range of disciplines.
Assembly Automation
This is a well-written engineering textbook. Genetic algorithms are properly explained and well motivated. The engineering examples illustrate the power of application of genetic algorithms.
Journal of the American Statistical Association
The book is a good contribution to the genetic algorithm area from an applied point of view. It should be read by engineers, undergraduate or postgraduate students and researchers.
International Journal of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing
