Derivative-Free Optimization

In many engineering applications it is common to find optimization problems where the cost function and/or constraints require complex simulations. Though it is often, but not always, theoretically possible in these cases to extract derivative information efficiently, the associated implementation procedures are typically non-trivial and time-consuming (e.g., adjoint-based methodologies). Derivative-free (non-invasive, black-box) optimization has lately received considerable attention within the optimization community, including the establishment of solid mathematical foundations for many of the methods considered in practice. In this chapter we will describe some of the most conspicuous derivative-free optimization techniques. Our depiction will concentrate first on local optimization such as pattern search techniques, and other methods based on interpolation/approximation. Then, we will survey a number of global search methodologies, and finally give guidelines on constraint handling approaches.