Global and local real-coded genetic algorithms based on parent-centric crossover operators

Parent-centric real-parameter crossover operators create the offspring in the neighbourhood of one of the parents, the female parent. The other parent, the male one, defines the range of the neighbourhood. With the aim of improving the behaviour of these crossover operators, we present three processes that are performed before their application. First, a female and male differentiation process determines the individuals in the population that may become female or/and male parents. Then, two different selection mechanisms choose the female and male parents from each group. In addition, we tackle the election of the most adequate evolution model to take out profit from these parent selection mechanisms. The experimental results confirm that these three processes may enhance the operation of the parent-centric crossover operators. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.