Ant Colony Optimization (OIP) (A Bradford Book) - Hardcover

Dorigo, Marco; Stutzle, Thomas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0262042193 ISBN 13: 9780262042192

Publisher: MIT Press, 2004

Synopsis

An overview of the rapidly growing field of ant colony optimization that describes theoretical findings, the major algorithms, and current applications. The complex social behaviors of ants have been much studied by science, and computer scientists are now finding that these behavior patterns can provide models for solving difficult combinatorial optimization problems. The attempt to develop algorithms inspired by one aspect of ant behavior, the ability to find what computer scientists would call shortest paths, has become the field of ant colony optimization (ACO), the most successful and widely recognized algorithmic technique based on ant behavior. This book presents an overview of this rapidly growing field, from its theoretical inception to practical applications, including descriptions of many available ACO algorithms and their uses. The book first describes the translation of observed ant behavior into working optimization algorithms. The ant colony metaheuristic is then introduced and viewed in the general context of combinatorial optimization. This is followed by a detailed description and guide to all major ACO algorithms and a report on current theoretical findings. The book surveys ACO applications now in use, including routing, assignment, scheduling, subset, machine learning, and bioinformatics problems. AntNet, an ACO algorithm designed for the network routing problem, is described in detail. The authors conclude by summarizing the progress in the field and outlining future research directions. Each chapter ends with bibliographic material, bullet points setting out important ideas covered in the chapter, and exercises. Ant Colony Optimization will be of interest to academic and industry researchers, graduate students, and practitioners who wish to learn how to implement ACO algorithms.

About this title

Review:

--Bert H?lldobler, Professor of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of W?rzburg, Germany

--Iain D. Couzin, Princeton University and University of Oxford

" Inspired by the remarkable ability of social insects to solve problems, Dorigo and Stü tzle introduce highly creative new technological design principles for seeking optimized solutions to extremely difficult real-world problems, such as network routing and task scheduling. This is essential reading not only for those working in artificial intelligence and optimization, but for all of us who find the interface between biology and technology fascinating." --Iain D. Couzin, Princeton University and University of Oxford

" Marco Dorigo and Thomas Stü tzle impressively demonstrate that the importance of ant behavior reaches far beyond the sociobiological domain. "Ant Colony Optimization" presents the most successful algorithmic techniques to be developed on the basis on ant behavior. This book will certainly open the gates for new experimental work on decision making, division of labor, and communication; moreover, it will also inspire all those studying patterns of self-organization." --Bert Hö lldobler, Professor of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of Wü rzburg, Germany

& quot; Inspired by the remarkable ability of social insects to solve problems, Dorigo and St& uuml; tzle introduce highly creative new technological design principles for seeking optimized solutions to extremely difficult real-world problems, such as network routing and task scheduling. This is essential reading not only for those working in artificial intelligence and optimization, but for all of us who find the interface between biology and technology fascinating.& quot; -- Iain D. Couzin, Princeton University and University of Oxford

& quot; Marco Dorigo and Thomas St& uuml; tzle impressively demonstrate that the importance of ant behavior reaches far beyond the sociobiological domain. Ant Colony Optimization presents the most successful algorithmic techniques to be developed on the basis on ant behavior. This book will certainly open the gates for new experimental work on decision making, division of labor, and communication; moreover, it will also inspire all those studying patterns of self-organization.& quot; -- Bert H& ouml; lldobler, Professor of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of W& uuml; rzburg, Germany

"Inspired by the remarkable ability of social insects to solve problems, Dorigo and Stutzle introduce highly creative new technological design principles for seeking optimized solutions to extremely difficult real-world problems, such as network routing and task scheduling. This is essential reading not only for those working in artificial intelligence and optimization, but for all of us who find the interface between biology and technology fascinating."--Iain D. Couzin, Princeton University and University of Oxford

"Marco Dorigo and Thomas Stutzle impressively demonstrate that the importance of ant behavior reaches far beyond the sociobiological domain. "Ant Colony Optimization" presents the most successful algorithmic techniques to be developed on the basis on ant behavior. This book will certainly open the gates for new experimental work on decision making, division of labor, and communication; moreover, it will also inspire all those studying patterns of self-organization."--Bert Holldobler, Professor of Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Biozentrum, University of Wurzburg, Germany

Synopsis:

The complex social behaviours of ants have been much studied by science, and computer scientists are now finding that these behaviour patterns can provide models for solving difficult combinatorial optimisation problems. The attempt to develop algorithms inspired by one aspect of ant behaviour, the ability to find what computer scientists would call shortest paths, has become the field of Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO), the most successful and widely recognised algorithmic technique based on ant behaviour. This book presents an overview of this rapidly growing field, from its theoretical inception to practical applications, including descriptions of many available ACO algorithms and their uses. The book first describes the translation of observed ant behaviour into working optimisation algorithms. The ant colony metaheuristic is then introduced and viewed in the general context of combinatorial optimisation. This is followed by a detailed description and guide to all major ACO algorithms and a report on current theoretical findings. The book surveys ACO applications now in use, including routing, assignment, scheduling, subset, machine learning and bioinformatics problems.

AntNet, an ACO algorithm designed for the network routing problem, is described in detail. The authors conclude by summarising the progress in the field and outlining future research directions. Each chapter ends with bibliographic material, bullet points setting out important ideas covered in the chapter and exercises. Ant Colony Optimization will be of interest to academic and industry researchers, graduate students and practitioners who wish to learn how to implement ACO algorithms.

About this edition

• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0262042193
• ISBN 13: 9780262042192
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 328