Abstract: A method for optimizing a solution set comprises the steps of generating an initial solution set, identifying a desirable portion of the initial solution set using a fitness calculator, using the desirable portion to create a surrogate fitness model that is computationally less expensive than the fitness calculator, generating new solutions, replacing at least a portion of the initial solution set with the new solutions to create a second solution set, and evaluating at least a portion of the second solution set with the fitness surrogate model to identify a second desirable portion.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method for optimizing a solution set has steps of generating a first solution set, selecting a second solution set from the first, fitting the second solution set with a probabilistic model, using the model to generate a new set of solutions, replacing at least a portion of the first set of solutions with the third, and evaluating the third set to determine if completion criteria have been met. A probabilistic model may allow for merging a plurality of variables into a single variable and for modeling relationships between the merged variables over multiple hierarchical levels. Invention method embodiments may also comprise steps of niching to preserve diversity among the solution set.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method for optimizing a solution set has steps of generating a first solution set, selecting a second solution set from the first, fitting the second solution set with a probabilistic model, using the model to generate a new set of solutions, replacing at least a portion of the first set of solutions with the third, and evaluating the third set to determine if completion criteria have been met. A probabilistic model may allow for merging a plurality of variables into a single variable and for modeling relationships between the merged variables over multiple hierarchical levels. Invention method embodiments may also comprise steps of niching to preserve diversity among the solution set.