Optimization Strategies for System Architecting Problems

System architecting is one of the first stages of the engineering problem-solving process. Pivotal decisions regarding the system's overall configuration are taken in this phase. Consequently, decision support tools like system architecture optimization are needed to effectively assess the architectural design space. However, system architecture...

Evolving Design Patterns for Program Synthesis

Design pattern provide an abstraction that the pro- gram synthesis algorithm can use in order to find programs easier. However, coming up with them is difficult as they are domain-specific. This paper showcases a novel approach to creating design pat- terns through the means of genetic algorithms. Re- sults are showing that while in the robot...

Fit2Crash: Specialising Fitness Functions for Crash Reproduction

Software applications inevitably crash, and it is time-consuming to recreate the crash conditions for debugging. Recently, researchers have developed frameworks relying on genetic algorithms, e.g. Botsing, for automated crash reproduction. However, the existing approaches process exceptions of different types as if they were the same. In this...

Investigating the use of neural network surrogate models in the evolutionary optimization of interplanetary low-thrust trajectories

Building on recent advances in the fields of low-thrust trajectory optimization based on shaping methods, Artificial Neural Networks, and surrogate models in Evolutionary Algorithms, an investigation into a novel optimization routine is conducted. A flexible Python tool to evaluate linked trajectories in a two-body model based on the hodographic...

Breakwater layout optimisation using a parametric model: Development of a decision-making tool for the conceptual design of breakwaters

Nowadays, conceptual breakwater layout design mostly relies on experience and expert judgement, making it complicated to demonstrate that an economic optimum has been reached. This stresses the need to develop a tool that is able to establish the economically most attractive breakwater layout for a certain set of requirements and site-specific...

An enhanced Genetic Algorithm and its application on two non-linear geophysical problems

Since its inception in 1975, Genetics Algorithms (GAs) have been successfully used as a tool for global optimization on non-convex problems in a wide range of real world applications. Its creation was inspired by natural adaptation and selection mechanisms that evolve from one population of chromosomes to a fitter population by means of an...

Inverse Modelling for Determination of Resistance & Capacitance of Typical Dutch Residences Using Genetic Algorithms

This thesis deals with determination of Resistance (R) value and Heat Capacity of building envelopes in the commonly found residential architecture in Holland i.e. pitched roof houses. The aim of this thesis is to find an easy to implement novel method which gives reasonably accurate results. In the absence of actual sensor data, the data-sets...

Using Genetic Algorithms for Underground Stope Design Optimization in Mining: A Stochastic Analysis

Mine design and mine planning are essential to a mining operation as they do not only dictate the outline of the mine, but essentially determine the financial robustness and success of the mining operation. However, as mining is a conservative business mine design is still mostly done by hand. To indicate the effect of uncertainty in mine design...

Electric/Electronic-Architectures - Automating and optimizing communication matrices

This research aims at optimizing the Electric/Electronic-Architecture of modern day vehicles. Due to the massive increase in new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, currently implemented communication technologies are no longer sufficient to deal with the massive increase in transmitted information. Instead of the costly procedure of introducing...