A Special Points and Neural Network-Based Dynamic Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithm

This paper introduces a special points and neural network- based dynamic multi-objective optimization algorithm (SPNN-DMOA) for solving dynamic multi-objective optimization problems (DMOPs) with an irregularly changing pareto set. In the stage of population initialization, the algorithm employs a feedforward neural network (FNN) along with special points to generate an initial population. The FNN is trained with historical special points (knee point, boundary point, center point), and the current special points are generated by the FNN when an environmental change is detected. Then the decision variables are classified into convergence variables and diversity variables. The convergence variables of special points are locally searched to form a new population and the best individuals of this population are selected. Finally, a portion of the initial population is generated by conducting a local search on the diversity variables of best individuals, while the remaining portion is produced using random strategies. SPNN-DMOA only needs to maintain non-dominated solutions in proximity to special points, which reduces the computational complexity in the dynamic evolution process. The proposed algorithm has been compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms on a series of benchmark problems, demonstrating its superior performance in optimizing DMOPs.