Population-based incremental learning
In computer science and machine learning, population-based incremental learning (PBIL) is an optimization algorithm, and an estimation of distribution algorithm. This is a type of genetic algorithm where the genotype of an entire population (probability vector) is evolved rather than individual members.[1] The algorithm is proposed by Shumeet Baluja in 1994. The algorithm is simpler than a standard genetic algorithm, and in many cases leads to better results than a standard genetic algorithm.[2][3][4]
Algorithm
    
In PBIL, genes are represented as real values in the range [0,1], indicating the probability that any particular allele appears in that gene.
The PBIL algorithm is as follows:
- A population is generated from the probability vector.
- The fitness of each member is evaluated and ranked.
- Update population genotype (probability vector) based on fittest individual.
- Mutate.
- Repeat steps 1–4
Source code
    
This is a part of source code implemented in Java. In the paper, learnRate = 0.1, negLearnRate = 0.075, mutProb = 0.02, and mutShift = 0.05 is used. N = 100 and ITER_COUNT = 1000 is enough for a small problem.
public void optimize() {
    final int totalBits = getTotalBits();
    final double[] probVec = new double[totalBits];
    Arrays.fill(probVec, 0.5);
    bestCost = POSITIVE_INFINITY;
 
    for (int i = 0; i < ITER_COUNT; i++) {
        // Creates N genes
        final boolean[][] genes = new [N][totalBits];
        for (boolean[] gene : genes) {
            for (int k = 0; k < gene.length; k++) {
                if (rand_nextDouble() < probVec[k])
                    gene[k] = true;
            }
        }
        // Calculate costs
        final double[] costs = new double[N];
        for (int j = 0; j < N; j++) {
            costs[j] = costFunc.cost(toRealVec(genes[j], domains));
        }
        // Find min and max cost genes
        boolean[] minGene = null, maxGene = null;
        double minCost = POSITIVE_INFINITY, maxCost = NEGATIVE_INFINITY;
        for (int j = 0; j < N; j++) {
            double cost = costs[j];
            if (minCost > cost) {
                minCost = cost;
                minGene = genes[j];
            }
            if (maxCost < cost) {
                maxCost = cost;
                maxGene = genes[j];
            }
        }
        // Compare with the best cost gene
        if (bestCost > minCost) {
            bestCost = minCost;
            bestGene = minGene;
        }
        // Update the probability vector with max and min cost genes
        for (int j = 0; j < totalBits; j++) {
            if (minGene[j] == maxGene[j]) {
                probVec[j] = probVec[j] * (1d - learnRate) +
                        (minGene[j] ? 1d : 0d) * learnRate;
            } else {
                final double learnRate2 = learnRate + negLearnRate;
                probVec[j] = probVec[j] * (1d - learnRate2) +
                        (minGene[j] ? 1d : 0d) * learnRate2;
            }
        }
        // Mutation
        for (int j = 0; j < totalBits; j++) {
            if (rand.nextDouble() < mutProb) {
                probVec[j] = probVec[j] * (1d - mutShift) +
                        (rand.nextBoolean() ? 1d : 0d) * mutShift;
            }
        }
    }
}
See also
    
    
References
    
- Karray, Fakhreddine O.; de Silva, Clarence (2004), Soft computing and intelligent systems design, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0-321-11617-8
- Baluja, Shumeet (1994), "Population-Based Incremental Learning: A Method for Integrating Genetic Search Based Function Optimization and Competitive Learning", Technical Report, Pittsburgh, PA: Carnegie Mellon University, no. CMU–CS–94–163, CiteSeerX 10.1.1.61.8554
- Baluja, Shumeet; Caruana, Rich (1995), Removing the Genetics from the Standard Genetic Algorithm, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, pp. 38–46, CiteSeerX 10.1.1.44.5424
- Baluja, Shumeet (1995), An Empirical Comparison of Seven Iterative and Evolutionary Function Optimization Heuristics, CiteSeerX 10.1.1.43.1108