A Hybrid Agent — Genetic Algorithm Approach to General Arrangements

The continuing development of an agent-genetic algorithm hybrid optimization kernel for the allocation of spaces to Zone-decks in a preliminary ship general arrangements design system is presented. In this system, design agents representing the interests of the spaces and the Zone-decks arc utilized to propose possible improvements to a population of candidate solutions. Their design change requests arc accepted or denied by a domain agent if they will improve the overall ship space allocation design. In parallel, a design judge agent monitors the population and reseeds dominated or infeasible solutions and a genetic algorithm agent provides periodic stochastic manipulation of the population to improve the algorithm’s global search capabilities. The algorithm is used to optimize the Zone-deck allocation of spaces for a Notional Corvette-sized vessel.