Nature Inspired Systems (B):
Exploration vs Exploitation in Naturally Inspired Search (Exp2)
4th April
part of
University of Bristol, Bristol, England
Nature-inspired systems: Nature-inspired systems such as genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimisation
and ant colony algorithms are the state-of-the-art solution techniques for some problems.
The Nature Inspired Systems meeting at AISB '06 comprises of two linked symposia: the morning session,
NISPADE, examines nature inspired systems for parallel, asynchronous and decentralised environments,
whereas the afternoon session, (Exp2), is concerned with a fundamental problem in natural systems - the balance
of system resources between exploration of the search space and exploitation of potentially good problem solutions.
Exploration vs Exploitation in Naturally Inspired Search, (Exp2): Any method can solve a search problem given infinite time. This does not
demonstrate intelligence; intelligent search is resource limited.
Intelligent search must combine exploration of the new regions of the space
with evaluation of potential solutions already identified. This necessitates
in balancing exploration with exploitation. Too much stress on exploration
results in a pure random search whereas too much exploitation results in a
pure local search. Clearly, intelligent search methods must reside somewhere
in the continuous spectrum in between these extremes.
Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) provide one example population-based framework
in which this issue has been explored for many years. EAs are often
discussed as a Naturally Inspired Search (NIS) methodology which is
effective because it strikes the exploration/exploitation balance in a good
position between local and random search. More recently, other
population-based NIS algorithms - such as Ant Colony Optimisation, Mimetic
Algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimisation etc - are also believed to find an
effective exploration/exploitation ratio.
However, this begs the question do NIS algorithms indeed strike an effective
exploration/exploitation balance and if so are there common principles that
could provide a theoretical justification for this characteristic. This
symposium aims at addressing such issues from an explicitly theoretical
rather than heuristic perspective.
Exp2: The Provisional Timetable
1.30-2.30pm LUNCH
- 2.30pm - Prof. David Corne, Symposia Introduction
- 2.50pm - Myatt, D., Nasuto, S.J. & Bishop, J.M., Exploration & Exploitation in Stochastic Diffusion
Search
- 3.15pm - Li & Zhang, A decomposition based evolutionary strategy for
bi-objective LOTZ problem
- 3.40pm - Mahon, A, Scott, D., Baxter, P. & Browne W., An autonomous explore/exploit strategy
- 4.05pm - Selvarajah, K., Kadirkamanathan, V. & Flemming, P., Stability analysis for the stochastic best
particle dynamics of a continuous particle swarm optimizer...
4.30pm COFFEE & CLOSE
Organisers
- Mark Bishop
- Dept. Computing, Goldsmiths College, University of London, London, UK. SE14 6NW.
Email: m.bishop@gold.ac.uk
tel: +44 2070 785048
- Slawek Nasuto
- School of Systems Engineering (Cybernetics), University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berks, UK. RG6 6AY.
Email: s.j.nasuto@reading.ac.uk
tel: +44 118 3786701
Program Committee
- Peter Bentley (UCL, UK)
- Mark Bishop (Goldsmiths College, UK)
- Jim Kennedy (USA)
- Bernard Manderick (VUB, Belgium)
- Slawek Nasuto (University of Reading, UK)
- Vitorino Ramos (University of Lisbon, Portugal)
- Luis Rocha, (Indiana University, USA)
- Chris Voudouris (BT Group, UK)
- David Wolpert (Nasa, USA)
- Qingfu Zhang (University of Essex, UK)