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# Function Optimization with Genetic Algorithm by using GPdotNET

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Function optimization with genetic algorithm by using GPdotNET

1. Introduction
2. Analytic function optimization module in GPdotNET
3. Examples of function optimizations
4. C# Implementation behind GPdotNET Optimization module

## Introduction

GPdotNET is an artificial intelligence tool for applying Genetic Programming and Genetic Algorithm in modeling and optimization of various engineering problems. It is .NET (Mono) application written in C# programming language which can run on both Windows and Linux based OS, or any OS which can run Mono framework. On the other hand, GPdotNET is very easy to use. Even if you have no deep knowledge of GP and GA, you can apply those methods in finding solution. The project can be used in modeling any kind of engineering process, which can be described with discrete data. It is also to be used in education while teaching students about evolutionary methods, mainly GP and GA. GPdotNET is an open source project hosted at http://gpdotnet.codeplex.com.

With the release of GPdotNET v2, it is also possible to find optimum for any analytic function regardless of independent variables. For example, you can find optimum value for an analytically defined function with 2, 5, 10 or 100 independent variables. By using classic methods, function optimization of 3 or more independent variables is very difficult and sometimes impossible. It is also very hard to find optimum value for functions which are relatively complex regardless of number of independent variables.

Because GPdotNET is based on Genetic Algorithm, we can find approximated optimum value of any function regardless of the limitation of number of independent variables, or complex definition. This blog post is going to give you a detailed and full description how to use GPdotNET to optimize function. Blog post will also cover C# implementation behind optimization process by showing representation of Chromosome with real number, as well as Fitness calculation which is based on Genetic Programming tree expression. In this blog post, several real world problem of optimization will be presented which will be solved with GPdotNET.

## Analytic Function Optimization Module in GPdotNET

When GPdotNET is opened, you can choose several predefined and calculated models from various domain problems, as well as creating New model among other options. By choosing New model, new dialog box appears like picture below:

By choosing Optimization of Analytic Function (see picture above), and pressing OK button, GPdotNET prepares model for optimization and opens 3 tab pages:

1. Analytic function
2. Settings and
3. Optimize Model

## Analytic Function

With “Analytic function” tab, you can define expression of a function. More information about how to define mathematics expression of analytic function can be found on my previous blog post.

By using “Analytic definition tool” at the bottom of the page, it is possible to define analytic expression. Expression tree builder generates function in Genetic Programming Expression tree, because GPdotNET fully implements both methods. Sharing features of Genetic programming in Optimization based Genetic Algorithm is unique and it is implement only in GPdotNET.

When the process of defining function is finished, press Finish button in order to proceed with further actions. Finish button action apply all changes to Optimization Model Tab. So if you have made some changes in function definition, by pressing Finish button, changes would be send to optimization tab.
Defining expression of function is relatively simple, but it is still not a natural way for defining function, and will be changed in the future. For example in picture 2, you can see Expression tree which represents:

$f(x,y)=y sin{4x}+1.1 x sin{2y}$.

## Setting GA Parameters

The second step in optimization is setting Genetic Algorithm parameter, which will be used in optimization process. Open the Setting tab and set the main GA parameters, like in the picture below:

To successfully apply GA in the Optimization, it is necessary to define:

1. Population size
2. Probabilities of genetic operators and
3. Selection methods

These parameters are general for all GA and GP models. You can find more information about parameters at http://bhrnjica.net/gpdotnet - the official site for GPdotNET.

## Optimize Model (Running Optimization)

When GA parameters are defined, we can start with optimization by selecting Optimization model tab. Before run, we have to define constrains for each independent variables. This is only limitation we have to define in order to start optimization. The picture below shows how to define constraints in 3 steps:

1. Select row by left mouse click
2. Enter min and max value in text boxes
3. Press update button

Perform these 3 actions for each defined independent variable.

When the process of defining constraints is finished, it is time to run the calculation by pressing Optimize button, from the main toolbar (green button). During optimization process, GPdotNET is presenting a nice animation of fitness values, as well as showing current best optimal value. The picture below shows the result of optimization process. It can be seen that the optimal value for this sample is $f_{opt}(9.96)=-100.22$.

## Examples of Function Optimization

In this topic, we are going to calculate optimal value for some known functions by using GPdotNET. To prove the optimal value is correct or very close to correct, we will calculate optimization with Wolfram Alpha.

### Function: x sin(4x)+1.1 x sin(2y) ; 0≤x,y≤10

GP Expression tree looks like the following picture on the left size.

Optimal value is found (right above picture) for 0.054 min, at 363 generation of total of 500 generation. Optimal value is f(8.66,9.03)=-18.59.

Here is Wolfram Alpha calculation of the same function:

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=min+x*sin%284*x%29%2B+1.1+*y*+sin%282+*y%29%2C+0%3Cx%3C10%2C0%3Cy%3C10

### Function: (x^2+x)cos(x), -10≤x≤10

GP expression tree looks like the following picture (left size):

Optimal value is found for 0.125 min, at 10 generation of total of 500 generation. Optimal value is F(9.62)=-100.22.

Here is Wolfram Alpha calculation of the same function.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=minimum+%28x%5E2%2Bx%29*cos%28x%29+over+%5B-10%2C10%5D

### Easom’s function fEaso(x1,x2)=-cos(x1)•cos(x2)•exp(-((x1-pi)^2+(x2-pi)^2)), -100<=x(i)<=100, i=1:2.

GP expression tree looks like the following picture (left size):

Optimal value is found for 0.061 min, at 477 generation of total of 500 generation. Optimal value is F(9.62)=-1, for x=y=3.14.

Function can be seen at this MatLab link.

## C# Implementation behind GPdotNET Optimization Module

GPdotNET Optimization module is just a part which is incorporated in to GPdotNET Engine. Specific implementation for this module is Chromosome implementation, as well as Fitness function. Chromosome implementation is based on floating point value instead of classic binary representation. Such a Chromosome contains array of floating point values and each element array represent function independent variable. If the function contains two independent variables (x,y) chromosome implementation will contains array with two floating points. Constraints of chromosome values represent constraints we defined during settings of the optimization process. The following source code listing shows implementation of `GANumChrosomome` class in GPdotNET:

C#
```public class GANumChromosome: IChromosome
{
private double[] val = null;
private float fitness = float.MinValue;
//... rest of implementation
}```

When the chromosome is generated, array elements get values randomly between min and max value defined by function definition. Here is the source code of `Generate` method.

C#
```///
/// Generate values for each represented variable
///
public void Generate(int param = 0)
{
if(val==null)
val = new double[functionSet.GetNumVariables()];
else if (val.Length != functionSet.GetNumVariables())
val = new double[functionSet.GetNumVariables()];

for (int i = 0; i < functionSet.GetNumVariables(); i++)
functionSet.GetTerminalMaxValue(i));

}```

Mutation is accomplished when randomly chosen array element, randomly changes its value. Here is a listing:

C#
```///
///  Select array element randomly and randomly change itc value
///
public void Mutate()
{
//randomly select array element
//randomly generate value for the selected element
(functionSet.GetTerminalMinValue(crossoverPoint), functionSet.GetTerminalMaxValue(crossoverPoint));
}```

Crossover is little bit complicated. It is implemented based on the book Practical Genetic Algoritms see pages 56,57,48,59. Here is an implementation:

C#
```///
/// Generate number between 0-1.
/// For each element array of two chromosomes exchange value based on random number.
///
///
public void Crossover(IChromosome ch2)
{
GANumChromosome p = (GANumChromosome)ch2;
double beta;
for (int i = crossoverPoint; i < functionSet.GetNumVariables(); i++)
{
val[i] = val[i] - beta * (val[i] - p.val[i]);
p.val[i] = p.val[i] + beta * (val[i] - p.val[i]);
}
}```

Fitness function for Optimization is straightforward, it evaluates each chromosome against tree expression. For minimum optimization problem, the better chromosome is lower value. For maximum, better chromosome is the chromosome with higher fitness value. Here is an implementation:

C#
```///
/// Evaluates function against terminals
///
///
///
///
public float Evaluate(IChromosome chromosome, IFunctionSet functionSet)
{
GANumChromosome ch = chromosome as GANumChromosome;
if (ch == null)
return 0;
else
{
//prepare terminals
var term = Globals.gpterminals.SingleTrainingData;
for (int i = 0; i < ch.val.Length; i++)
term[i] = ch.val[i];

var y = functionSet.Evaluate(_funToOptimize, -1);

if (double.IsNaN(y) || double.IsInfinity(y))
y = float.NaN;

//Save output in to output variable
term[term.Length - 1] = y;

if (IsMinimize)
y *= -1;

return (float)y;
}
}```

## Summary

We have seen that Function optimization module within GPdotNET is a powerful optimization tool. It can find a pretty close solution for very complex functions regardless of the number of independent variables. Optimization module uses Genetic Algorithm method with floating point value chromosome representation described in several books about GA. It is fast, simple and can be used in education as well as in solving real problems. More information about GPdotNET can be found here.

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 Software Developer (Senior) Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bahrudin Hrnjica holds a Ph.D. degree in Technical Science/Engineering from University in Bihać.
Besides teaching at University, he is in the software industry for more than two decades, focusing on development technologies e.g. .NET, Visual Studio, Desktop/Web/Cloud solutions.

He works on the development and application of different ML algorithms. In the development of ML-oriented solutions and modeling, he has more than 10 years of experience. His field of interest is also the development of predictive models with the ML.NET and Keras, but also actively develop two ML-based .NET open source projects: GPdotNET-genetic programming tool and ANNdotNET - deep learning tool on .NET platform. He works in multidisciplinary teams with the mission of optimizing and selecting the ML algorithms to build ML models.

He is the author of several books, and many online articles, writes a blog at http://bhrnjica.net, regularly holds lectures at local and regional conferences, User groups and Code Camp gatherings, and is also the founder of the Bihac Developer Meetup Group. Microsoft recognizes his work and awarded him with the prestigious Microsoft MVP title for the first time in 2011, which he still holds today.