Abstract

This dissertation concerns the principles and techniques for scalable evolutionary computation to achieve better solutions for larger problems with more computational resources. It suggests that many of the limitations of existent evolutionary algorithms, such as premature convergence, stagnation, loss of diversity, lack of reliability and efficiency, are derived from the fundamental convergent evolution model, the oversimplified “survival of the fittest” Darwinian evolution model. Within this model, the higher the fitness the population achieves, the more the search capability is lost. This is also the case for many other conventional search techniques. The main result of this dissertation is the introduction of a novel sustainable evolution model, the Hierarchical Fair Competition (HFC) model, and corresponding five sustainable evolutionary algorithms (EA) for evolutionary search. By maintaining individuals in hierarchically organized fitness levels and keeping evolution going at all fitness levels, HFC transforms the conventional convergent evolutionary computation model into a sustainable search framework by ensuring a continuous supply and incorporation of low-level building blocks and by culturing and maintaining building blocks of intermediate levels with its

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