Iterated local search with Powell's method: a memetic algorithm for continuous global optimization

In combinatorial solution spaces Iterated Local Search (ILS) turns out to be exceptionally successful. The question arises: is ILS also capable of improving the optimization process in continuous solution spaces? To demonstrate that hybridization leads to powerful techniques in continuous domains, we introduce a hybrid meta-heuristic that integrates Powell’s direct search method. It combines direct searchwith elements from population based evolutionary optimization. The approach is analyzed experimentally on a set of well known test problems and compared to a stateof-the-art technique, i.e., a restart variant of the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy with increasing population sizes (G-CMA-ES). It turns out that the populationbased Powell-ILS is competitive to the CMA-ES, in some cases even significantly faster and behaves more robust than the pure strategy of Powell in multimodal fitness landscapes. Further experiments on the perturbation mechanism, population sizes, and problems with noise complete the analysis of the hybrid methodology and lead to parameter recommendations.