?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Survival+of+the+flexible%3A+explaining+the+dominance+of+meta-heuristics+within+a+rapidly+evolving+world&rft.creator=Whitacre%2C+Dr+James+M&rft.subject=Complexity+Theory&rft.subject=Artificial+Intelligence&rft.description=Although+researchers+often+discuss+the+rising+popularity+of+meta-heuristics+(MH)%2C+there+has+been+a+paucity+of+data+to+directly+support+the+notion+that+MH+are+growing+in+prominence+compared+to+deterministic+methods+(DM).+Here+we+provide+the+first+evidence+that+MH+usage+is+not+only+growing%2C+but+indeed+appears+to+have+surpassed+DM+as+the+algorithm+framework+of+choice+for+solving+optimization+problems.+Motivated+by+these+findings%2C+this+paper+aims+to+review+and+discuss+the+origins+of+meta-heuristic+dominance.%0D%0AExplanations+for+meta-heuristic+success+are+varied%2C+however+their+robustness+to+variations+in+fitness+landscape+properties+is+often+cited+as+an+important+advantage.+In+this+paper%2C+we+review+explanations+for+MH+popularity+and+discuss+why+some+of+these+arguments+remain+unsatisfying.+We+argue+that+a+more+compelling+and+comprehensive+explanation+would+directly+account+for+the+manner+in+which+most+MH+success+has+actually+been+achieved%2C+e.g.+through+hybridization+and+customization+to+a+particular+problem+environment.+%0D%0AThis+paper+puts+forth+the+hypothesis+that+MH+derive+much+of+their+utility+from+being+flexible.+This+flexibility+is+empirically+supported+by+evidence+that+MH+design+can+adapt+to+a+problem+environment+and+can+integrate+domain+knowledge.+We+propose+what+flexibility+means+from+a+search+algorithm+design+context+and+we+propose+key+attributes+that+should+exist+in+a+flexible+algorithm+framework.+Interestingly%2C+a+number+of+these+qualities+are+observed+in+robust+biological+systems.+In+light+of+these+similarities%2C+we+consider+whether+the+origins+of+biological+robustness%2C+(e.g.+loose+coupling%2C+modularity%2C+partial+redundancy)+could+help+to+inspire+the+development+of+more+flexible+algorithm+frameworks.+We+also+discuss+current+trends+in+optimization+problems+and+speculate+that+highly+flexible+algorithm+frameworks+will+become+increasingly+popular+within+our+diverse+and+rapidly+changing+world.&rft.date=2009-07&rft.type=Preprint&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F6582%2F1%2FManuscript.pdf&rft.identifier=++Whitacre%2C+Dr+James+M++(2009)+Survival+of+the+flexible%3A+explaining+the+dominance+of+meta-heuristics+within+a+rapidly+evolving+world.++%5BPreprint%5D+++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F6582%2F