The Basics of Evolution Strategies: The Implementation of the Biomimetic Optimization Method in Educational Modules

With a focus on education and teaching, we provide general background information on bioinspired optimization methods by comparing the concept of optimization and the search for an optimum in engineering and biology. We introduce both the principles of Darwinian evolution and the basic evolutionary optimization procedure of evolution strategies. We provide three educational modules in work sheets that can be used by teachers and students to improve their understanding of evolution strategies. The educational module “Optimization of a Milk Carton” shows that the material consumption in producing a milk carton can be minimized using an evolution strategy with a mutative step size control. The use of a standard dice and a pocket calculator enables new milk cartons to be generated, with the offspring having the lowest material consumption becoming the parent of the next generation. The other educational modules deal with the so-called brachistochrone problem. The module “Fastest and Shortest Marble Track” provides a construction plan for a marble track whereby students can experimentally compare the “path of shortest length” with the “path of shortest time”. The EvoBrach software, is used in the module “Various Marble Track Shapes” to compare the running times of a marble on a straight line, a parabola, and a brachistochrone. In conclusion, the introduction to the biomimetic method of evolution strategies and the educational modules should deepen the understanding of both optimization problems and biological evolution.