Book Image

Hands-On Neuroevolution with Python

By : Iaroslav Omelianenko
Book Image

Hands-On Neuroevolution with Python

By: Iaroslav Omelianenko

Overview of this book

Neuroevolution is a form of artificial intelligence learning that uses evolutionary algorithms to simplify the process of solving complex tasks in domains such as games, robotics, and the simulation of natural processes. This book will give you comprehensive insights into essential neuroevolution concepts and equip you with the skills you need to apply neuroevolution-based algorithms to solve practical, real-world problems. You'll start with learning the key neuroevolution concepts and methods by writing code with Python. You'll also get hands-on experience with popular Python libraries and cover examples of classical reinforcement learning, path planning for autonomous agents, and developing agents to autonomously play Atari games. Next, you'll learn to solve common and not-so-common challenges in natural computing using neuroevolution-based algorithms. Later, you'll understand how to apply neuroevolution strategies to existing neural network designs to improve training and inference performance. Finally, you'll gain clear insights into the topology of neural networks and how neuroevolution allows you to develop complex networks, starting with simple ones. By the end of this book, you will not only have explored existing neuroevolution-based algorithms, but also have the skills you need to apply them in your research and work assignments.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Free Chapter
1
Section 1: Fundamentals of Evolutionary Computation Algorithms and Neuroevolution Methods
4
Section 2: Applying Neuroevolution Methods to Solve Classic Computer Science Problems
9
Section 3: Advanced Neuroevolution Methods
14
Section 4: Discussion and Concluding Remarks

Indirect encoding of ANNs with CPPNs

In the previous chapters, you learned about the direct encoding of ANNs using the nature-inspired conception of a genotype that is mapped to the phenotype in a 1:1 ratio to represent the ANN topology. This mapping allows us to use advanced NEAT algorithm features such as an innovation number, which allows us to track when a particular mutation was introduced during the evolution. Each gene in the genome has a specific value of the innovation number, allowing fast and accurate crossover of parent genomes to produce offspring. While this feature introduces immense benefits and also reduces the computational costs needed to match the parent genomes during the recombination, the direct encoding used to encode the ANN topology of the phenotype has a significant drawback as it limits the size of the encoded ANN. The bigger the encoded ANN, the bigger...