Enhancing optimal feeder assignment of the multi-head surface mounting machine using genetic algorithms

We propose an optimization method to reduce the assembly time of chip mounters. Feeder assignment and assembly sequence are determined considering the multiple feeder assignment. The problem is divided into two sub-problems: feeder assignment problem and assembly sequence problem. We present mathematical model for each sub-problem. The clustering algorithm and assignment algorithm are applied to solve the feeder assignment problem. The assignment algorithm and connection algorithm are applied to solve the assembly sequence problem. Simulation results are then presented to verify the usefulness of the proposed method.

Improved random selection strategy, self-adaptive crossover and mutation operators, population co-evolution algorithm are adopted in this paper to set up a new genetic algorithm(GA), guaranteeing the universality of population, the thoroughness of solution and the execution efficiency of algorithm in solving multi-process, process crossover, work-piece flow and other condition based scheduling problem of flexible manufacturing system(FMS). The problem of GA in solving FMS scheduling is summarized in this paper, reasons and countermeasures for GA's pre-maturing are studied, longitudinal and transverse comprehensive state-based correlative self-adaptive crossover and mutation operators are raised according to the analysis on GA to avoid local optimization and pre-maturity, the co-evolutionary GA is designed to solve the scheduling model for FMS, and the algorithm is validated for the scheduling of box-type parts for precise machine tools.

University examination timetabling problem is a complicated, multi-constraint combinatorial optimization problem. The current grouping genetic algorithm could get a better optimistic solution. Although the block encoding technique was applied in, the probabilities of crossover and mutation operation were still based on simple genetic algorithm. So the universality of this algorithm is not very well because the same probabilities of crossover and mutation operation could obtain different effects in different cases of examination arrangements. To find a more general algorithm, an Improved Adaptive Genetic Algorithm (IAGA) for practical applications was presented in this paper. IAGA can reconstruct the probabilities of crossover and mutation operation according to different cases of examination arrangements. To make further improvement of its convergence speed and overcome premature problem, IAGA appropriately adjusts mutation operation by Population's Maturity in addition. Moreover, the Memory Operator was added into the Algorithm to ensure getting the global optimization solution. Finally, IAGA was tested in function optimization and Examination Timetabling problems, and the experiments show that the results are promoted very well.

BackgroundMining epistatic loci which affects specific phenotypic traits is an important research issue in the field of biology. Bayesian network (BN) is a graphical model which can express the relationship between genetic loci and phenotype. Until now, it has been widely used into epistasis mining in many research work. However, this method has two disadvantages: low learning efficiency and easy to fall into local optimum. Genetic algorithm has the excellence of rapid global search and avoiding falling into local optimum. It is scalable and easy to integrate with other algorithms. This work proposes an epistasis mining approach based on genetic tabu algorithm and Bayesian network (Epi-GTBN). It uses genetic algorithm into the heuristic search strategy of Bayesian network. The individual structure can be evolved through the genetic operations of selection, crossover and mutation. It can help to find the optimal network structure, and then further to mine the epistasis loci effectively. In order to enhance the diversity of the population and obtain a more effective global optimal solution, we use the tabu search strategy into the operations of crossover and mutation in genetic algorithm. It can help to accelerate the convergence of the algorithm.ResultsWe compared Epi-GTBN with other recent algorithms using both simulated and real datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that our method has much better epistasis detection accuracy in the case of not affecting the efficiency for different datasets.ConclusionsThe presented methodology (Epi-GTBN) is an effective method for epistasis detection, and it can be seen as an interesting addition to the arsenal used in complex traits analyses.

With the emergence of wireless networking paradigm, several optimization problems are appearing in such networks. Such problem are related to optimizing network connectivity, coverage and stability. The resolution of these problems turns out to be crucial for optimized network performance. In the case of Wireless Mesh Networks, such problems include computing placement of mesh router nodes so that network performance is optimized. However, as these optimization problems are known to be computationally hard to solve, Genetic Algorithms (GAs) have been recently investigated as effective resolution methods. Mutation operator is one of the GA ingredients. Unlike crossover operators, which achieve to transmit genetic information from parents to off springs, mutation operators usually make some small local perturbation of the individuals, having thus less impact on individuals. Moreover, crossover is "a must" operator in GA and is usually applied with high probability, while mutation operators when implemented, are applied with small probability. Due to this, mutation operator is usually considered as a secondary operator. However, many studies in the literature have shown that mutation when effectively combined with selection operators can improve the performance of GAs. In this work we present the results of an experimental study on the effect of mutation and selection operators in GA for mesh router nodes placement problem. The study aims to identify the mutation and selection types that work best for instances of different characteristics.

Bus scheduling problem is vital to ensure service quality and save operational cost. Electric bus scheduling problem is difficult to solve because of vehicles' limited driving range and charging requirements. This article investigates the multi-depot electric bus scheduling problem (MD-EBSP). A genetic algorithm with trip-adjustment strategy (GA-TAS) is proposed for the MD-EBSP. Firstly, a genetic algorithm (GA) with three crossover operators and seven mutation operators is devised to find a set of solutions. In each generation, a randomly selected crossover (mutation) operator is used to update the individuals. The solutions found by the GA are further improved by a trip-adjustment strategy (TAS) to obtain the final solution. The GA-TAS is compared with an adaptive large neighbourhood search method, a heuristic procedure, and experience-based scheduling schemes on seven problem instances. Experiments show that the GA-TAS outperforms comparative approaches on a number of vehicle and balancing vehicle driving tasks.

In the present paper a special bit-masking oriented data structure for an improved implementation of crossover and mutation operators in genetic algorithms is shown. The developed data structure performs evolutionary operators in two separate steps: crossover and mutation mask fill and a special boolean based function application. Both phases are optimized to reach a more efficient, fast and flexible genetic reproduction than standard implementations. The method has been powered adding a multi-layered, bit-masking oriented data structure and a boolean operation based control mixer, allowing special blended crossover operators obtained by superposition of the standard ones. Several examples of crossover schemes produced by these extended controls are presented. In addition, a special purpose crossover scheme, capable to process at the same time two distinct groups of design variables with separate crossover schemes is shown, in order to improve efficiency and convergence speed of some discrete/continuous optimization problems. Finally, to highlight further capabilities of the bit-masking approach, a special single-step version of an evolutionary direction operator is also illustrated.

This paper proposes a set of specific crossover and mutation operators for the delineation of functional regions through evolutionary computation. We consider a problem of dividing a given territory into local labor market areas based on spatial interaction data. Such areas are defined so that a high degree of inter-regional separation and intra-regional integration - in both cases in terms of commuting flows - exist. A genetic algorithm has been designed based on the maximization of a fitness function that measures aggregate intra-region interaction under constraints of inter-region separation and minimum size. Additional requirements, typical of any functional regionalization, include the absence of overlapping between delineated regions and an exhaustive coverage of the whole territory (so all basic spatial units must be allocated to one and only one-region). The complex set of restrictions results in conventional operators often generating invalid solutions, impeding or delaying the evolutionary process. This is the reason why an extensive set of operators has been designed that incorporates knowledge about the problem, allowing the evolution of the set of solutions towards the final result.

BackgroundProtein structure prediction (PSP) has important applications in different fields, such as drug design, disease prediction, and so on. In protein structure prediction, there are two important issues. The first one is the design of the structure model and the second one is the design of the optimization technology. Because of the complexity of the realistic protein structure, the structure model adopted in this paper is a simplified model, which is called off-lattice AB model. After the structure model is assumed, optimization technology is needed for searching the best conformation of a protein sequence based on the assumed structure model. However, PSP is an NP-hard problem even if the simplest model is assumed. Thus, many algorithms have been developed to solve the global optimization problem. In this paper, a hybrid algorithm, which combines genetic algorithm (GA) and tabu search (TS) algorithm, is developed to complete this task.ResultsIn order to develop an efficient optimization algorithm, several improved strategies are developed for the proposed genetic tabu search algorithm. The combined use of these strategies can improve the efficiency of the algorithm. In these strategies, tabu search introduced into the crossover and mutation operators can improve the local search capability, the adoption of variable population size strategy can maintain the diversity of the population, and the ranking selection strategy can improve the possibility of an individual with low energy value entering into next generation. Experiments are performed with Fibonacci sequences and real protein sequences. Experimental results show that the lowest energy obtained by the proposed GATS algorithm is lower than that obtained by previous methods.ConclusionsThe hybrid algorithm has the advantages from both genetic algorithm and tabu search algorithm. It makes use of the advantage of multiple search points in genetic algorithm, and can overcome poor hill-climbing capability in the conventional genetic algorithm by using the flexible memory functions of TS. Compared with some previous algorithms, GATS algorithm has better performance in global optimization and can predict 3D protein structure more effectively.

Development of a Mutation Operator in a Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm for Bridge Model Optimization

Floorplanning is a crucial process in the early stage of VLSI physical design. It determines the performance, reliability, and size of chips. B*-tree is a simple yet efficient representation that encodes the layout of modules in a compact and non-slicing structure. Several B*-tree variants and corresponding operators have been proposed to deal with non-slicing floorplanning. However, these operators are considered and applied individually. A collective manipulation of them remains missing. This study proposes a genetic algorithm (GA) that enables multiple crossover and mutation operators for solving the non-slicing floorplanning problem. In particular, the GA selects one crossover operator and one mutation operator from the pool of operators whenever reproducing an offspring. The probability for an operator to be selected is based on its empirical performance. This study conducts experiments on two well-known benchmarks to examine the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the GA can achieve superior solution quality and efficiency on the non-slicing VLSI floorplanning.

Biological-based genetic algorithms for optimized disaster response resource allocation

This paper considers the problem of minimizing the time required to populate a printed circuit board using a surface mounting machine. The total assembly time depends on two optimization problems; reel assignment problem (RAP) and pick-and-place sequencing problem (PAPSP). We formulate RAP as a quadratic integer programming problem and PAPSP as an asymmetric travelling salesman problem. Since these problems are NP-hard, we focus on the development of heuristics that yield near optimal solutions in a reasonable time. The implementation of these methods have achieved an average saving of 31% over randomly generated sequences in total assembly time.

We show that the genetic algorithm that Leu described to plan component placement sequences and feeder assignments for pick-and-place printed circuit board assembly tasks is a special case of a more general model that supports multiple placement-nozzles and independent feeder and board link (chromosome) evaluation methods. We also show that independent link evaluation can be used to offset a reduction in the parent link sample space and that these results are better than what can be achieved through link-pair evaluation. These generalizations extend the capabilities of the genetic algorithm to a broader range of manufacturing scenarios.

The optimization problems of industrial process attracted many researches since the early 90's of the last century. The production volume increase, lifespan shorten of the products and technological advances pushed the industries to seek for low cost and quick implementation solutions. One of the processes that became the core for increasing the sales volumes was the Surface Mount Technology - SMT composed by printing, automated chip mounting and reflow which replaced the Through Hole Technology - THT. This paper formulated a new point of view for modular chip mounters based on the already known feeder assignment problem and head motion problem applying the global optimization using the nonsorting dominance genetic algorithm the NSGAH in regard of the total cycle time reduction. The modeling of the fitness functions were presented and the multi criteria optimization tool was described using the machine functions and constraints. The same method could be applied to describe other type of machines to support future research.