Use of interactive evolutionary computation with simplified modeling for computationally expensive layout design optimization

This paper presents the use of Interactive evolutionary computation (IEC) as a method to allow a human user to embed their expert domain knowledge and experience to overcome the deficiencies of modified nodal analysis (MNA)-based EC in a fraction of the time associated with computationally expensive finite element modeler (FEM)-based EC. From our comparison tests for the design of a MEMS resonating mass, results show that MNA-based IEC performance was within 10% of FEM-based EC, yet it performed in only 1/24^th of the computation time.