A multi-objective multi-tasking evolutionary algorithm based inverse mapping and adaptive transformation strategy: IM-MFEA

• Published in: ISA transactions 2023-04, Vol.135, p.173-187
• Main Authors: Wei, Qinnan, Yang, Jingming, Hu, Ziyu, Sun, Hao, Wei, Lixin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Evolutionary algorithm; Inverse model; Multi-objective optimization; Multi-tasking optimization
• ISSN: 0019-0578; 1879-2022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isatra.2022.09.046

Multi-tasking optimization algorithm attracts much attention because the knowledge transfer between tasks enables the algorithm to process multiple related tasks simultaneously. However, negative knowledge transfer occasionally occurs, which may weaken the performance of the algorithm. To reduce the impact of negative knowledge transfer, a multi-objective multi-tasking optimization algorithm (IM-MFEA) based on inverse model mapping and an objective transformation strategy is proposed. First, correlation analysis is applied in an inverse mapping strategy to improve the accuracy of the inverse mapping model. Then, following the pattern of using the source domain solutions to assist the optimization of the target domain, the adaptive transformation strategy is used to improve the quality of the source domain solution in the objective space. These transformed solutions are reconstructed through the inverse mapping strategy. Finally, these reconstructed source domain solutions are mated with the target domain solutions to generate competitive offspring individuals for the target domain. To verify the effectiveness of the IM-MFEA, comprehensive experiments were conducted on nine multi-objective multi-factorial optimization (MFO) benchmark problems. Empirical results demonstrate that IM-MFEA is superior to other algorithms in 90% of test instances by inverted generational distance (IGD) and hypervolume (HV) value indicators. •An adaptive transformation strategy for scaling solutions is proposed.•An inverse mapping strategy is proposed to improve offspring individual’s quality.•Algorithm IM-MFEA is proposed to reduce the impact of the difference between tasks.