Population-based incremental learning with memory scheme for changing environments

Abstract

In recent years there has been a growing interest in studying evolutionary algorithms for dynamic optimization problems due to its importance in real world applications. Several approaches have been developed, such as the memory scheme. This paper investigates the application of the memory scheme for population-based incremental learning (PBIL) algorithms, a class of evolutionary algorithms, for dynamic optimization problems. A PBIL-specific memory scheme is proposed to improve its adaptability in dynamic environments. In this memory scheme the working probability vector is stored together with the best sample it creates in the memory and is used to reactivate old environments when change occurs. Experimental study based on a series of dynamic environments shows the efficiency of the memory scheme for PBILs in dynamic environments. In this paper, the relationship between the memory scheme and the multi-population scheme for PBILs in dynamic environments is also investigated. The experimental results indicate a negative interaction of the multi-population scheme on the memory scheme for PBILs in the dynamic test environments.