Recommending suitable learning scenarios according to learners’ preferences: An improved swarm based approach

The paper presents a new approach for recommending suitable learning paths for different learners groups. Selection of the learning path is considered as recommendations to choosing and combining the sequences of learning objects (LOs) according to learners’ preferences. Learning path can be selected by applying artificial intelligence techniques, e.g. a swarm intelligence model. If we modify and/or change some LOs in the learning path, we should rearrange the alignment of new and old LOs and reallocate pheromones to achieve effective learning recommendations. To solve this problem, a new method based on the ant colony optimisation algorithm and adaptation of the solution to the changing optimum is proposed. A simulation process with a dynamic change of learning paths when new LOs are inserted was chosen to verify the method proposed. The paper contributes with the following new developments: (1) an approach of dynamic learning paths selection based on swarm intelligence, and (2) a modified ant colony optimisation algorithm for learning paths selection. The elaborated approach effectively assist learners by helping them to reach most suitable LOs according to their preferences, and tutors – by helping them to monitor, refine, and improve e-learning modules and courses according to the learners’ behaviour.     

An attribute-based ant colony system for adaptive learning object recommendation

Teachers usually have a personal understanding of what “good teaching” means, and as a result of their experience and educationally related domain knowledge, many of them create learning objects (LO) and put them on the web for study use. In fact, most students cannot find the most suitable LO (e.g. learning materials, learning assets, or learning packages) from webs. Consequently, many researchers have focused on developing e-learning systems with personalized learning mechanisms to assist on-line web-based learning and to adaptively provide learning paths. However, although most personalized learning mechanism systems neglect to consider the relationship between learner attributes (e.g. learning style, domain knowledge) and LO’s attributes. Thus, it is not easy for a learner to find an adaptive learning object that reflects his own attributes in relationship to learning object attributes. Therefore, in this paper, based on an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm, we proposed an attributes-based ant colony system (AACS) to help learners find an adaptive learning object more effectively. Our paper makes three critical contributions: (1) It presents an attribute-based search mechanism to find adaptive learning objects effectively; (2) An attributes-ant algorithm was proposed; (3) An adaptive learning rule was developed to identify how learners with different attributes may locate learning objects which have a higher probability of being useful and suitable; (4) A web-based learning portal was created for learners to find the learning objects more effectively.     

On extracting recommendation knowledge for personalized web-based learning based on ant colony optimization with segmented-goal and meta-control strategies

Personalized web-based learning has become an important learning form in the 21st century. To recommend appropriate online materials for a certain learner, several characteristics of the learner, such as his/her learning style, learning modality, cognitive style and competency, need to be considered. An earlier research result showed that a fuzzy knowledge extraction model can be established to extract personalized recommendation knowledge by discovering effective learning paths from past learning experiences through an ant colony optimization model. Though that results revealed the theoretical potential of the proposed method in discovering effective learning paths for learners, critical limitations arose when considering its applications in real world situations, such as the requirement of a large amount of learners and a long period of training cycles in order to discover good learning paths for learners. These practical issues motivate this research. In this paper, the aim is to resolve the aforementioned issues by devising more efficient algorithms that basically run on the same ant colony model yet requiring only a reasonable number of learners and training cycles to find satisfactory good results. The key approaches to resolving the practical issues include revising the global update policy, an adaptive search policy and a segmented-goal training strategy. Based on simulation results, it is shown that these new ingredients added to the original knowledge extraction algorithm result in more efficient ones that can be applied in practical situations.     

Designing a semantic bliki system to support different types of knowledge and adaptive learning

Though blogs and wikis have been used to support knowledge management and e-learning, existing blogs and wikis cannot support different types of knowledge and adaptive learning. A case in point, types of knowledge vary greatly in category and viewpoints. Additionally, adaptive learning is crucial to improving one’s learning performance. This study aims to design a semantic bliki system to tackle such issues. To support various types of knowledge, this study has developed a new social software called “bliki” that combines the advantages of blogs and wikis. This bliki system also applies Semantic Web technology to organize an ontology and a variety of knowledge types. To aid adaptive learning, a function called “Book” is provided to enable learners to arrange personalized learning goals and paths. The learning contents and their sequences and difficulty levels can be specified according to learners’ metacognitive knowledge and collaborative activities. An experiment is conducted to evaluate this system and the experimental results show that this system is able to comprehend various types of knowledge and to improve learners’ learning performance.     

Recommending suitable learning paths according to learners’ preferences: Experimental research results

The paper deals with the problem of personalising learning units with the main focus on finding personalised learning paths in learning units. Finding suitable learning paths is based on students’ needs in terms of their learning styles. It has been shown that learning path in static and dynamic learning units can be selected by applying artificial intelligence techniques, e.g. a swarm intelligence model, mainly by adapting ant colony optimisation method based on collaboration and pheromones. In the paper, experimental results of applying the proposed approach in practise are presented. The results of empirical experiment have shown that learning in the proposed prototype of e-learning system applying created recommending method improves students’ learning results and saves their learning time. This fact indicates that the developed adaptive method for personalising learning units is practically applicable in e-learning and enhances the learning quality.     

基于蚁群算法的软件测试数据自动生成

提出了一种基于蚁群算法的测试数据自动生成方法。该方法采用位串形式编码,实现了被测程序输入空间到蚂蚁路径网络的映射模型。根据程序插装函数定义的路径信息素轨迹强度,蚂蚁进行群体协作搜索最佳路径,生成测试数据。在基本蚁群算法基础上,通过引入变异算子和自适应挥发系数,提高了蚂蚁路径的多样性,克服了早熟停滞的缺陷。和模拟退火遗传算法进行了对比实验研究,结果表明了该方法的可行性,生成测试数据的效率优于模拟退火遗传算法。     

Designing adaptive learning itineraries using features modelling and swarm intelligence

In this paper, Bayesian network (BN) and ant colony optimization (ACO) techniques are combined in order to find the best path through a graph representing all available itineraries to acquire a professional competence. The combination of these methods allows us to design a dynamic learning path, useful in a rapidly changing world. One of the most important advances in this work, apart from the variable amount of pheromones, is the automatic processing of the learning graph. This processing is carried out by the learning management system and helps towards understanding the learning process as a competence-oriented itinerary instead of a stand-alone course. The amount of pheromones is calculated by taking into account the results acquired in the last completed course in relation to the minimum score required and by feeding this into the learning tree in order to obtain a relative impact on the path taken by the student. A BN is used to predict the probability of success, by taking historical data and student profiles into account. Usually, these profiles are defined beforehand; however, in our approach, some characteristics of these profiles, such as the level of knowledge, are classified automatically through supervised and/or unsupervised learning. By using ACO and BN, a fitness function, responsible for automatically selecting the next course in the learning graph, is defined. This is done by generating a path which maximizes the probability of each user??s success on the course. Therefore, the path can change in order to adapt itself to learners?? preferences and needs, by taking into account the pedagogical weight of each learning unit and the social behaviour of the system.     

基于蚁群粒子群融合的机器人路径规划算法

针对复杂环境下中移动机器人路径规划问题,提出了一种基于蚁群粒子群融合的路径规划算法。该算法首先利用粒子群路径规划的环境建模方法快速规划出起始点到目标点的初始路径。然后根据产生的路径进行信息素的分配,最后经改进的蚁群算法进行进一步寻优,从而找出最优路径。经仿真证明,该方法在寻得最优路径的基础上可大大降低寻优的时间,尤其是对于复杂环境下的路径规划,其效果尤为明显。     

WSN中改进蚁群算法求解移动代理问题*

关于求解无线传感器网络中移动代理迁移路径问题,在蚁群系统基础上对蚁群算法进行改进,使算法更适用于无线传感器网络环境。从大量初始化路径中选出部分最优路径留下信息素,而且考虑节点的剩余能量,从而引导蚂蚁选择不同的路径;同时,针对无线传感器网络节点通信能力有限的特点,为了避免无效路径的产生引入变异操作。理论分析和仿真实验表明,改进后的蚁群算法增强了算法的全局搜索能力并有效求解无线传感器网络移动代理迁移路径问题。     

改进蚁群算法在机器人路径规划上的研究

基于蚁群算法在路径规划过程中出现收敛速度慢、易陷入局部最优,且在复杂环境下的寻优能力弱等缺陷,提出了一种适用于机器人路径规划的改进蚁群算法。在预规划路径基础上建立初始信息素矩阵,避免算法前期盲目搜索,提高搜索速度;将改进蚁群算法和A*算法进行有机融合,进一步提高蚁群算法搜索方向性和收敛速度。制定信息素更新规则时引入拐点评价函数,提高搜索路径的光滑性,提高机器人安全性和降低能耗;提出回退策略有效减少蚂蚁死亡数量,提高路径规划方法的鲁棒性。仿真实验表明,在相同的环境下,改进的蚁群算法在机器人路径规划中搜索效率和收敛速度明显优于其他算法。     

Intelligent web-based learning system with personalized learning path guidance

Personalized curriculum sequencing is an important research issue for web-based learning systems because no fixed learning paths will be appropriate for all learners. Therefore, many researchers focused on developing e-learning systems with personalized learning mechanisms to assist on-line web-based learning and adaptively provide learning paths in order to promote the learning performance of individual learners. However, most personalized e-learning systems usually neglect to consider if learner ability and the difficulty level of the recommended courseware are matched to each other while performing personalized learning services. Moreover, the problem of concept continuity of learning paths also needs to be considered while implementing personalized curriculum sequencing because smooth learning paths enhance the linked strength between learning concepts. Generally, inappropriate courseware leads to learner cognitive overload or disorientation during learning processes, thus reducing learning performance. Therefore, compared to the freely browsing learning mode without any personalized learning path guidance used in most web-based learning systems, this paper assesses whether the proposed genetic-based personalized e-learning system, which can generate appropriate learning paths according to the incorrect testing responses of an individual learner in a pre-test, provides benefits in terms of learning performance promotion while learning. Based on the results of pre-test, the proposed genetic-based personalized e-learning system can conduct personalized curriculum sequencing through simultaneously considering courseware difficulty level and the concept continuity of learning paths to support web-based learning. Experimental results indicated that applying the proposed genetic-based personalized e-learning system for web-based learning is superior to the freely browsing learning mode because of high quality and concise learning path for individual learners.     

基于改进双层蚁群算法的移动机器人路径规划

为提升移动机器人的路径规划能力,提出一种改进双层蚁群算法,将蚁群划分为引导层蚁群和普通层蚁群.为提升算法的收敛速度和路径的平滑程度,在设计引导层蚁群启发函数时加大终点栅格的吸引力,设计普通层蚁群启发函数的同时考虑起点、终点和转折点的影响;针对复杂环境下蚁群算法死锁严重的问题,为引导层蚁群设计应对死锁问题的自由寻路-剪枝...     

融合动态层次聚类和邻域区间重组的蚁群算法

针对蚁群算法搜索速度过慢以及解质量不足等问题,提出一种融合动态层次聚类和邻域区间重组的蚁群算法。在初始阶段,调整层次聚类阈值并按照类间距离最小合并的原则迭代至目标簇集,根据预合并系数进行簇间合并,通过蚁群系统得到小类路径并断开重组以加快算法整体收敛速度;接着使用蚁群系统对解空间进行优化,同时并行处理簇集与簇集邻域区间扩散重组,增加解的多样性,进一步固定迭代次数进行比较,若邻域区间重组解质量优于当前优化解则进行推荐处理,提高解的精度;当算法停滞时,引入调整因子降低各路径信息素之间差异以增强蚂蚁搜索能力,有助于算法跳出局部最优。实验结果表明,在面对大规模问题时,算法的精度在3%左右,该方法相比传统方法可以有效提高解的精度和收敛速度。     

并行设计任务调度的自适应蚁群算法

针对将蚁群算法应用于任务规划调度问题求解时存在的计算时间长、易出现停滞等缺陷,提出一种具有自适应功能的蚁群算法.通过设计一种路径选择机制来提高蚁群路径的多样性;以蚁群目标值作为路径信息素变化的依据,设计一个动态因子更新路径信息素;使用变异蚂蚁以一个动态比率替换策略更新蚁群.实例仿真结果表明,文中算法具有较强的全局寻优能力和较高的搜索效率,较好地解决了快速收敛与停滞现象之间的矛盾.     

无线多媒体传感器网络视频流多路径路由算法

无线多媒体传感器网络中的视频流传输,需要提供多样QoS保障.提出一种基于改进蚁群算法多路径路由算法ACMRA(ant colony based multipath routing algorithm),以寻找具有多种优先级路径的路径集,并对重要性不同的视频数据进行相应路径的选择.通过优化网络链路上人工信息素的初始分布,改进后的蚁群算法具有更快的可行路径发现速度及收敛速度.多路径机制的引入提高了网络数据吞吐量与视频传输性能,同时可均衡网络资源,延长网络生命.实验结果表明,算法ACMRA在网络性能、视频传榆性能与网络生命周期方面,较之其他路由算法具有明显优势.     

基于改进蚁群算法的全向移动机器人全遍历路径规划

受全遍历环境影响, 现有方法规划得出的路径长度过长, 为提高路径规划性能, 获取最优路径, 提出基于改进蚁群算法的全向移动机器人全遍历路径规划方法. 在拓扑建模示意图的基础上, 依据移动机器人在原坐标系下的位置信息, 利用角度转换建立新的环境模型. 考虑蚁群算法存在的问题, 将递减系数引入到启发函数中, 更新局部信息素, 通过设定迭代阈值, 调节信息素的挥发系数. 最后通过路径规划流程设计, 实现对全向移动机器人全遍历路径的规划. 实验结果表明, 所设计方法不仅可以缩短全遍历路径长度, 还可以缩短路径规划时间, 获取最优路径, 从而提高了全向移动机器人的全遍历路径规划性能.     

基于非均匀环境建模与三阶Bezier曲线的平滑路径规划

针对工作于复杂环境下的大型工装,本文提出了一种基于非均匀环境建模与三阶Bezier曲线的平滑路径规划算法,以指导工装的运动.在环境建模方面,利用四叉树建立环境的非均匀模型,能够有效压缩环境信息,提高搜索效率;在路径搜索方面,以非均匀环境模型为基础,提出一种距离启发搜索和信息素混合更新的蚁群算法,能够得到工装的安全可行路径点;在路径平滑方面,基于三阶Bezier曲线,提出能够连接任意位置和任意方向两点的转弯单元的设计方法,利用转弯单元连接路径搜索算法得到的路径点,能够获得满足工装非完整性约束的平滑路径.最后,以大型激光驱动器的靶场环境为对象,对本文算法的有效性和可靠性进行验证,并利用DELMIA平台进一步验证了规划路径的运动平滑性和安全性.     

基于高基尼不纯度的UAV&UGV协作监测系统路径规划

空地异构机器人系统由无人机和地面车组成,通过两者相互协作完成持续监测任务可以提高工作效率、解决无人机续航能力不足的问题.在该异构机器人系统中,地面车可以为无人机进行补能,保证监测任务的持续性.由于周期性的监测路径极易发生监测规律信息的泄露,提高无人机监测路径的随机性具有重要意义.针对此问题,引入基尼不纯度指标来评估监测路径的随机性,以目标点的归一化访问间隔时间及其基尼不纯度的加权之和最小为优化目标,建立无人机和地面车协作系统持续监测路径规划模型,提升监测路径的隐私性.采用蚁群算法对无人机监测路径和地面车补能路径进行优化求解,验证了模型的有效性与合理性.通过与其他算法比较,说明了蚁群算法具有更快的搜索速度和运行效率.     

基于双种群蚁群算法的AGV路径规划研究

针对蚁群算法存在的收敛速度慢、易陷入局部最优和容易死锁等问题,提出了一种用于自动引导车(Automated Guided Vehicle, AGV)路径规划的双种群蚁群算法。该算法引入差异化信息素初始值,修改启发函数并在信息素更新时对最优及最差路径进行奖惩；以改进策略为基础,引入自适应步长搜索策略,通过具有差异化步长的两个种群相互协作加强算法寻优能力和搜索效率；针对死锁问题,提出了将符合条件的单元格视为障碍物的“填充陷阱”策略。分别进行仿真实验和车间现场实验,结果表明,该算法可以为AGV规划出一条安全且综合性能较好的路径,为AGV路径规划提供了一种可行的方案。     

一种基于路径相似度的蚁群算法

提出了路径相似度的概念,并根据较优可行解与最优解的相似度,来进行路径选择和信息素更新,以求能更快加速收敛和防止早熟、停滞现象。该算法根据截之间的相似度,自适应地调整路径选择策略和信息量更新策略。基于旅行商问题的实验验证了算法比一般蚁群算法具有更好的全局搜索能力、收敛速度和解的多样性。