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Vol: 55(69) No: 4 / December 2010 

Evolutionary Neural Networks with Heterogenous Hidden Neurons
Lavinia Ferariu
Department of Automatic Control and Applied Informatics, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Automatic Control and Computer Engineering, Bd. D. Mangeron 27, 700050 Iasi, Romania, phone: (0040) 232-278680, e-mail: lferaru@tuiasi.ro
Bogdan Burlacu
Department of Automatic Control and Applied Informatics, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Automatic Control and Computer Engineering , Bd. D. Mangeron 27, 700050 Iasi, Romania, e-mail: bburlacu@tuiasi.ro


Keywords: genetic programming, directed acyclic graphs, neural networks, system identification

Abstract
The paper discusses the main challenges of nonlinear system identification, focusing on the benefits and the limitations of neuro-genetic approaches. Materials and methods: Feed-forward neural networks with heterogeneous hidden layers are considered. A flexible and efficient selection of proper neural architecture and parameters is performed by means of genetic programming based on graph encoding. To ensure good exploration capabilities, the hierarchical models are modularly built, using customized sets of primitives which guarantee both genotypic and phenotypic validity. The generation of offspring is based on genetic crossovers and mutations compatible with the hierarchical architecture of the evolved individuals. In order to allow the rejection of overfitted models and an efficient bloat reduction, the problem is approached via a multiobjective optimization, which targets the selection of accurate and simple models, by means of linear aggregation. The design software is implemented using the C programming language, in terms of high scalability, reduced memory consumption and small execution time. Results: The experimental trials carried out on the identification of two industrial subsystems reveal the flexibility of the approach in building appropriate neural models of different levels of architecture complexity. The software features high stress performances, being suitable for managing long evolutionary loops and populations of numerous, complex models. Conclusions: The presented approach offers increased flexibility in solving complex nonlinear system identification problems, when scarce apriorical information is available, numerous models are to be designed and/or high performances of accuracy are requested.

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