Soft Computing in Industrial Applications

This book contains recent theoretical innovations and a comprehensive collection of industrial applications in the emerging field of Soft Computing. Soft computing is a new form of artificial intelligence and it consists of four core methodologies: Fuzzy Computing, Neuro Computing, Evolutionary Computation, and Probabilistic Computing. These individual techniques are clearly complementary or synergistic rather than competitive. Therefore, it is a common practice to combine two or three methodologies when solving complex problems. Also the systematic fusion of soft computing and hard computing is a highly potential alternative to be considered. Soft computing methodologies are suitable for various real-world applications, because the available information and system knowledge are often imprecise, un­ certain, or partially even incorrect. To handle such demanding conditions and obtain the required robustness with pure hard computing would typically be either very difficult or expensive. This book is a unique collection of technical articles providing a thorough overview of the state-of-the-art theory and industrial applications. The core articles on evolutionary computation, fuzzy computing, and neuro computing are of particular interest to researchers and practicing engineers.