Automatic design of Ant Colony Optimization for Permutation Problems

155 Pages·2014·2.11 MB·English

Universidad Polite´cnica de Madrid
E.T.S. de Ingenieros Informa´ticos
Automatic design of Ant Colony Optimization
for Permutation Problems
Javier Pe´rez
Directores:
Prof. Thomas Stu¨tzle
Dr. Manuel L´opez-Ib´an˜ez
2013/2014

Abstract
In this study, we present a framework based on ant colony optimization (ACO)
for tackling combinatorial problems. ACO algorithms have been applied to many
different problems, focusing on algorithmic variants that obtain high-quality solu-
tions. Usually, the implementations are re-done for various problem even if they
maintain the same details of the ACO algorithm. However, our goal is to generate
a sustainable framework for applications on permutation problems. We concen-
trate on understanding the behavior of pheromone trails and specific methods that
can be combined. Eventually, we will propose an automatic offline configuration
tool to build an effective algorithm.

Abstract
En este trabajo vamos a presentar un framework basado en la familia de algorit-
mos ant colony optimization (ACO), los cuales esta´n disen˜ados para enfrentarse
a problemas combinacionales. Los algoritmos ACO han sido aplicados a diver-
sos problemas, centra´ndose los investigadores en diversas variantes que obtienen
buenas soluciones. Normalmente, las implementaciones se tienen que rehacer, in-
clusos si se mantienen los mismos detalles para los algoritmos ACO. Sin embargo,
nuestro objetivo es generar un framework sostenible para aplicaciones sobre prob-
lemas de permutaciones. Nos centraremos en comprender el comportamiento de
la sendas de feromonas y ciertos m´etodos con los que pueden ser combinados. Fi-
nalmente, propondremos una herramienta para la configuraron automa´tica offline
para construir algoritmos eficientes.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Thomas Stu¨tzle and Manuel Lo´pez-Ib´an˜ez, not only for
giving me the opportunity of developing this thesis, but also for their help and
patience. I would also like to thank all people I met during the last months I spent
at IRIDIA.

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