Esra’a Alkafaween

Esra'a Alkafaween, Ahmad B. A. Hassanat

Genetic algorithm (GA) is an efficient tool for solving optimization problems by evolving solutions, as it mimics the Darwinian theory of natural evolution. The mutation operator is one of the key success factors in GA, as it is considered the exploration operator of GA. Various mutation operators exist to solve hard combinatorial problems such as the TSP. In this paper, we propose a hybrid mutation operator called "IRGIBNNM", this mutation is a combination of two existing mutations, a knowledge-based mutation, and a random-based mutation. We also improve the existing "select best mutation" strategy using the proposed mutation. We conducted several experiments on twelve benchmark Symmetric traveling salesman problem (STSP) instances. The results of our experiments show the efficiency of the proposed mutation, particularly when we use it with some other mutations. Keyword: Knowledge-based mutation, Inversion mutation, Slide mutation, RGIBNNM, SBM.

Esra'a O Alkafaween

In this thesis we propose new methods for crossover operator namely: cut on worst gene (COWGC), cut on worst L+R gene (COWLRGC) and Collision Crossovers. And also we propose several types of mutation operator such as: worst gene with random gene mutation (WGWRGM) , worst LR gene with random gene mutation (WLRGWRGM), worst gene with worst gene mutation (WGWWGM), worst gene with nearest neighbour mutation (WGWNNM), worst gene with the worst around the nearest neighbour mutation (WGWWNNM), worst gene inserted beside nearest neighbour mutation (WGIBNNM), random gene inserted beside nearest neighbour mutation (RGIBNNM), Swap worst gene locally mutation (SWGLM), Insert best random gene before worst gene mutation (IBRGBWGM) and Insert best random gene before random gene mutation (IBRGBRGM). In addition to proposing four selection strategies, namely: select any crossover (SAC), select any mutation (SAM), select best crossover (SBC) and select best mutation (SBM). The first two are based on selection of the best crossover and mutation operator respectively, and the other two strategies randomly select any operator. So we investigate the use of more than one crossover/mutation operator (based on the proposed strategies) to enhance the performance of genetic algorithms. Our experiments, conducted on several Travelling Salesman Problems (TSP), show the superiority of some of the proposed methods in crossover and mutation over some of the well-known crossover and mutation operators described in the literature. In addition, using any of the four strategies (SAC, SAM, SBC and SBM), found to be better than using one crossover/mutation operator in general, because those allow the GA to avoid local optima, or the so-called premature convergence. Keywords: GAs, Collision crossover, Multi crossovers, Multi mutations, TSP.

Ahmad B. A. Hassanat, Esra'a Alkafaween

This paper investigates the use of more than one crossover operator to enhance the performance of genetic algorithms. Novel crossover operators are proposed such as the Collision crossover, which is based on the physical rules of elastic collision, in addition to proposing two selection strategies for the crossover operators, one of which is based on selecting the best crossover operator and the other randomly selects any operator. Several experiments on some Travelling Salesman Problems (TSP) have been conducted to evaluate the proposed methods, which are compared to the well-known Modified crossover operator and partially mapped Crossover (PMX) crossover. The results show the importance of some of the proposed methods, such as the collision crossover, in addition to the significant enhancement of the genetic algorithms performance, particularly when using more than one crossover operator.

Ahmad B. A. Hassanat, Esra'a Alkafaween, Nedal A. Al-Nawaiseh et al.

Mutation is one of the most important stages of the genetic algorithm because of its impact on the exploration of global optima, and to overcome premature convergence. There are many types of mutation, and the problem lies in selection of the appropriate type, where the decision becomes more difficult and needs more trial and error. This paper investigates the use of more than one mutation operator to enhance the performance of genetic algorithms. Novel mutation operators are proposed, in addition to two selection strategies for the mutation operators, one of which is based on selecting the best mutation operator and the other randomly selects any operator. Several experiments on some Travelling Salesman Problems (TSP) were conducted to evaluate the proposed methods, and these were compared to the well-known exchange mutation and rearrangement mutation. The results show the importance of some of the proposed methods, in addition to the significant enhancement of the genetic algorithm's performance, particularly when using more than one mutation operator.