An Introduction to Evolutionary Computation

Researchers in many fields are faced with computational problems in which a great number of solutions are possible and finding an optimal or even a sufficiently good one is difficult. A variety of search techniques have been developed for exploring such problem spaces, and a promising approach has been the use of algorithms based upon the principles of natural evolution. This tutorial will introduce the basic principles underlying most evolutionary algorithms, as well as some of the key details of the four most popular methods: genetic algorithms, genetic programming, evolutionary strategies, and evolutionary programming. The aim of the tutorial is to introduce the participants to the jargon and principles of the field of evolutionary computation, and to encourage the participants to consider the potential of applying evolutionary optimization techniques in their own research.