Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Systems Made Simple

To date, because of the computational complexity of using a general type-2 fuzzy set (T2 FS) in a T2 fuzzy logic system (FLS), most people only use an interval T2 FS, the result being an interval T2 FLS (IT2 FLS). Unfortunately, there is a heavy educational burden even to using an IT2 FLS. This burden has to do with first having to learn general T2 FS mathematics, and then specializing it to an IT2 FSs. In retrospect, we believe that requiring a person to use T2 FS mathematics represents a barrier to the use of an IT2 FLS. In this paper, we demonstrate that it is unnecessary to take the route from general T2 FS to IT2 FS, and that all of the results that are needed to implement an IT2 FLS can be obtained using T1 FS mathematics. As such, this paper is a novel tutorial that makes an IT2 FLS much more accessible to all readers of this journal. We can now develop an IT2 FLS in a much more straightforward way     

$alpha$-Plane Representation for Type-2 Fuzzy Sets: Theory and Applications

This paper 1) reviews the alpha-plane representation of a type-2 fuzzy set (T2 FS), which is a representation that is comparable to the alpha-cut representation of a type-1 FS (T1 FS) and is useful for both theoretical and computational studies of and for T2 FSs; 2) proves that set theoretic operations for T2 FSs can be computed using very simple alpha-plane computations that are the set theoretic operations for interval T2 (IT2) FSs; 3) reviews how the centroid of a T2 FS can be computed using alpha-plane computations that are also very simple because they can be performed using existing Karnik Mendel algorithms that are applied to each alpha-plane; 4) shows how many theoretically based geometrical properties can be obtained about the centroid, even before the centroid is computed; 5) provides examples that show that the mean value (defuzzified value) of the centroid can often be approximated by using the centroids of only 0 and 1 alpha -planes of a T2 FS; 6) examines a triangle quasi-T2 fuzzy logic system (Q-T2 FLS) whose secondary membership functions are triangles and for which all calculations use existing T1 or IT2 FS mathematics, and hence, they may be a good next step in the hierarchy of FLSs, from T1 to IT2 to T2; and 7) compares T1, IT2, and triangle Q-T2 FLSs to forecast noise-corrupted measurements of a chaotic Mackey-Glass time series.     

New results about the centroid of an interval type-2 fuzzy set, including the centroid of a fuzzy granule

The centroid of an interval type-2 fuzzy set (IT2 FS) provides a measure of the uncertainty of such a FS. Its calculation is very widely used in interval type-2 fuzzy logic systems. In this paper, we present properties about the centroid of an IT2 FS. We also illustrate many of the general results for a T2 fuzzy granule (FG) in order to develop some understanding about the uncertainty of the FG in terms of its vertical and horizontal dimensions. At present, the T2 FG is the only IT2 FS for which it is possible to obtain closed-form formulas for the centroid, and those formulas are in this paper.     

Type-2 Fuzzistics for Nonsymmetric Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sets: Forward Problems

Interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FS) play a central role in fuzzy sets as models for words and in engineering applications of T2 FSs. These fuzzy sets are characterized by their footprints of uncertainty (FOU), which in turn are characterized by their boundaries-upper and lower membership functions (MF). The centroid of an IT2 FS, which is an IT1 FS, provides a measure of the uncertainty in the IT2 FS. The main purpose of this paper is to quantify the centroid of a non-symmetric IT2 FS with respect to geometric properties of its FOU. This is very important because interval data collected from subjects about words suggests that the FOUs of most words are non-symmetrical. Using the results in this paper, it is possible to formulate and solve forward problems, i.e., to go from parametric non-symmetric IT2 FS models to data with associated uncertainty bounds. We provide some solutions to such problems for non-symmetrical triangular, trapezoidal, Gaussian and shoulder FOUs.     

Super-Exponential Convergence of the Karnik–Mendel Algorithms for Computing the Centroid of an Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Set

Computing the centroid of an interval T2 FS is an important operation in a type-2 fuzzy logic system (where it is called type-reduction), but it is also a potentially time-consuming operation. The Karnik-Mendel (KM) iterative algorithms are widely used for doing this. In this paper, we prove that these algorithms converge monotonically and super-exponentially fast. Both properties are highly desirable for iterative algorithms and explain why in practice the KM algorithms have been observed to converge very fast, thereby making them very practical to use     

Reinforcement Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Controller Design by Online Rule Generation and Q-Value-Aided Ant Colony Optimization

This paper proposes a new reinforcement-learning method using online rule generation and Q-value-aided ant colony optimization (ORGQACO) for fuzzy controller design. The fuzzy controller is based on an interval type-2 fuzzy system (IT2FS). The antecedent part in the designed IT2FS uses interval type-2 fuzzy sets to improve controller robustness to noise. There are initially no fuzzy rules in the IT2FS. The ORGQACO concurrently designs both the structure and parameters of an IT2FS. We propose an online interval type-2 rule generation method for the evolution of system structure and flexible partitioning of the input space. Consequent part parameters in an IT2FS are designed using Q-values and the reinforcement local-global ant colony optimization algorithm. This algorithm selects the consequent part from a set of candidate actions according to ant pheromone trails and Q-values, both of which are updated using reinforcement signals. The ORGQACO design method is applied to the following three control problems: (1) truck-backing control; (2) magnetic-levitation control; and (3) chaotic-system control. The ORGQACO is compared with other reinforcement-learning methods to verify its efficiency and effectiveness. Comparisons with type-1 fuzzy systems verify the noise robustness property of using an IT2FS.     

On answering the question “Where do I start in order to solve a new problem involving interval type-2 fuzzy sets?”

This paper, which is tutorial in nature, demonstrates how the Embedded Sets Representation Theorem (RT) for a general type-2 fuzzy set (T2 FS), when specialized to an interval (I)T2 FS, can be used as the starting point to solve many diverse problems that involve IT2 FSs. The problems considered are: set theoretic operations, centroid, uncertainty measures, similarity, inference engine computations for Mamdani IT2 fuzzy logic systems, linguistic weighted average, person membership function approach to type-2 fuzzistics, and Interval Approach to type-2 fuzzistics. Each solution obtained from the RT is a structural solution but is not a practical computational solution, however, the latter are always found from the former. It is this author’s recommendation that one should use the RT as a starting point whenever solving a new problem involving IT2 FSs because it has had such great success in solving so many such problems in the past, and it answers the question “Where do I start in order to solve a new problem involving IT2 FSs?”     

输出约束的有限时间自适应区间二型模糊输出反馈PMSM伺服控制

针对永磁同步电机驱动的伺服系统在不确定性摩擦和未知负载的影响下难以达到高精度的控制效果,提出一种基于区间二型模糊系统的带有输出约束的有限时间自适应输出反馈控制方案.首先,构建一个基于非线性扰动观测器的区间二型模糊状态观测器,分别完成对于未知扰动和速度的估计,区间二型模糊系统完成对于非线性摩擦的逼近;然后,在此基础上,结合滤波误差补偿机制和有限时间技术,引入障碍Lyapunov函数和反步控制技术设计输出约束的自适应区间二型模糊输出反馈控制器;最后,根据Lyapunov稳定性理论提出严格的稳定性分析,保证闭环系统的所有信号均是有限时间内有界的,并通过数值仿真和实验验证了所提出方法的有效性.     

A type-2 neural fuzzy system learned through type-1 fuzzy rules and its FPGA-based hardware implementation

This paper first proposes a type-2 neural fuzzy system (NFS) learned through its type-1 counterpart (T2NFS-T1) and then implements the built IT2NFS-T1 in a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip. The antecedent part of each fuzzy rule in the T2NFS-T1 uses interval type-2 fuzzy sets, while the consequent part uses a Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) type with interval combination weights. The T2NFS-T1 uses a simplified type-reduction operation to reduce system training time and hardware implementation cost. Given a training data set, a TSK type-1 NFS is first learned through structure and parameter learning. The built type-1 fuzzy logic system (FLS) is then extended to a type-2 FLS, where highly overlapped type-1 fuzzy sets are merged into interval type-2 fuzzy sets to reduce the total number of fuzzy sets. Finally, the rule consequent and antecedent parameters in the T2NFS-T1 are tuned using a hybrid of the gradient descent and rule-ordered recursive least square (RLS) algorithms. Simulation results and comparisons with various type-1 and type-2 FLSs verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the T2NFS-T1 for system modeling and prediction problems. A new hardware circuit using both parallel-processing and pipeline techniques is proposed to implement the learned T2NFS-T1 in an FPGA chip. The T2NFS-T1 chip reduces the hardware implementation cost in comparison to other type-2 fuzzy chips.     

A new type-2 fuzzy set of linguistic variables for the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) has been used to solve various multi-criteria decision-making problems where trapezoidal type-1 fuzzy sets are utilized in defining decision-makers’ linguistic judgment. Previous theories have suggested that interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FS) can offer an alternative that can handle vagueness and uncertainty. This paper proposes a new FAHP characterized by IT2 FS for linguistic variables. Differently from the typical FAHP, which directly utilizes trapezoidal type-1 fuzzy numbers, this method introduces IT2 FS to enhance judgment in the fuzzy decision-making environment. This new model includes linguistic variables in IT2 FS and a rank value method for normalizing upper and lower memberships of IT2 FS. The proposed model is illustrated by a numerical example of work safety evaluation. Comparable results are also presented to check the feasibility of the proposed method. It is shown that the ranking order of the proposed method is consistent with the other two methods despite difference in weight priorities.     

Data-driven modeling and optimization of thermal comfort and energy consumption using type-2 fuzzy method

In the research domain of intelligent buildings and smart home, modeling and optimization of the thermal comfort and energy consumption are important issues. This paper presents a type-2 fuzzy method based data-driven strategy for the modeling and optimization of thermal comfort words and energy consumption. First, we propose a methodology to convert the interval survey data on thermal comfort words to the interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FSs) which can reflect the inter-personal and intra-personal uncertainties contained in the intervals. This data-driven strategy includes three steps: survey data collection and pre-processing, ambiguity-preserved conversion of the survey intervals to their representative type-1 fuzzy sets (T1 FSs), IT2 FS modeling. Then, using the IT2 FS models of thermal comfort words as antecedent parts, an evolving type-2 fuzzy model is constructed to reflect the online observed energy consumption data. Finally, a multiobjective optimization model is presented to recommend a reasonable temperature range that can give comfortable feeling while reducing energy consumption. The proposed method can be used to realize comfortable but energy-saving environment in smart home or intelligent buildings.     

Modeling data uncertainty on electric load forecasting based on Type-2 fuzzy logic set theory

Real applications based on type-2 (T2) fuzzy sets are rare. The main reason is that the T2 fuzzy set theory requires massive computation and complex determination of secondary membership function. Thus most real-world applications are based on one simplified method, i.e. interval type-2 (IT2) fuzzy sets in which the secondary membership function is defined as interval sets. Consequently all computations in three-dimensional space are degenerated into calculations in two-dimensional plane, computing complexity is reduced greatly. However, ability on modeling information uncertainty is also reduced. In this paper, a novel methodology based on T2 fuzzy sets is proposed i.e. T2SDSA-FNN (Type-2 Self-Developing and Self-Adaptive Fuzzy Neural Networks). Our novelty is that (1) proposed system is based on T2 fuzzy sets, not IT2 ones; (2) it tackles one difficult problem in T2 fuzzy logic systems (FLS), i.e. massive computing time of inference so as not to be applicable to solve real world problem; and (3) membership grades on third dimensional space can be automatically determined from mining input data. The proposed method is validated in a real data set collected from Macao electric utility. Simulation and test results reveal that it has superior accuracy performance on electric forecasting problem than other techniques shown in existing literatures.     

Application of interval type-2 fuzzy neural networks in non-linear identification and time series prediction

Neural networks (NNs), type-1 fuzzy logic systems and interval type-2 fuzzy logic systems (IT2FLSs) have been shown to be important methods in real world applications, which range from pattern recognition, time series prediction, to intelligent control. Recent research shows that embedding an IT2FLS on an NN can be very effective for a wide number of non-linear complex systems, especially when handling imperfect or incomplete information. In this paper we are presenting several models of interval type-2 fuzzy neural networks (IT2FNNs) that use a set of rules and interval type-2 membership functions for that purpose. Simulation results of non-linear function identification using the IT2FNN for one and three variables and for the Mackey–Glass chaotic time series prediction are presented to illustrate that the proposed models have potential for real world applications.     

Designing an adaptive type-2 fuzzy logic system load frequency control for a nonlinear time-delay power system

In this paper, a combination of type-2 fuzzy logic system (T2FLS) and a conventional feedback controller (CFC) has been designed for the load frequency control (LFC) of a nonlinear time-delay power system. In this approach, the T2FLS controller which is designed to overcome the uncertainties and nonlinearites of the controlled system is in the feedforward path and the CFC which plays an important role in the transient state is in the feedback path. A Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional has been used to ensure the stability of the system and the parameter adjustment laws for the T2FLS controller are derived using this functional. In this training method, the effect of delay has been considered in tuning the T2FLS controller parameters and thus the performance of the system has been improved. The T2FLS controller is used due to its ability to effectively model uncertainties, which may exist in the rules and data measured by the sensors. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a two-area nonlinear time-delay power system has been used and compared with the controller that uses the gradient-descend (GD) algorithm to tune the T2FLS controller parameters.     

Uncertainty measures for interval type-2 fuzzy sets

Fuzziness (entropy) is a commonly used measure of uncertainty for type-1 fuzzy sets. For interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FSs), centroid, cardinality, fuzziness, variance and skewness are all measures of uncertainties. The centroid of an IT2 FS has been defined by Karnik and Mendel. In this paper, the other four concepts are defined. All definitions use a Representation Theorem for IT2 FSs. Formulas for computing the cardinality, fuzziness, variance and skewness of an IT2 FS are derived. These definitions should be useful in IT2 fuzzy logic systems design using the principles of uncertainty, and in measuring the similarity between two IT2 FSs.     

Type-2 fuzzy wavelet networks (T2FWN) for system identification using fuzzy differential and Lyapunov stability algorithm

We propose a novel method for the identification of non-linear system by utilizing some of the important properties of wavelets like denoising, compression, multiresolution along with the concepts of fuzzy logic. Two new type-2 fuzzy wavelet networks (T2FWNs) are proposed here. These T2FWNs can handle rule uncertainties in a better way because of using the type-2 fuzzy sets in modeling and fuzzy differential (FD) and Lyapunov stability during learning. Lot of work has been done in the identification of non-linear system by using the models based on type-1 fuzzy logic system (FLS). But in practice they are unable to handle uncertainties in the rules. The robustness of the system is assured by Lyapunov stability (LS). Also we have explored the properties of wavelets and FLS to handle the uncertainties efficiently. As the stability of the model is highly dependent on the learning of the system we use Lyapunov stability in combination with fuzzy differential. FD gives the range of variation of parameters having lower and upper bound in which the system is stable. The performance of T2FWN is compared with type-1 FLS, FWN [D.W.C. Ho, P.-A. Zhang, J. Xu, Fuzzy wavelet networks for function learning, IEEE Trans. Fuzzy Syst. 9 (February (1)) 2000] and FWNN [S. Srivastava, M. Singh, M. Hanmandlu, A.N. Jha, New fuzzy wavelet neural networks for system identification and control, Intl. J. Appl. Soft Comput. 6 (November (I)) 2005, 1–17]. It is shown that noise and disturbance in the reference signal are reduced with wavelets. A comparison of three learning algorithms: (i) gradient descent (GD) (ii) a combination of Lyapunov stability and fuzzy differential (LSFD) and, (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is done.     

Advantages of the Enhanced Opposite Direction Searching Algorithm for Computing the Centroid of An Interval Type‐2 Fuzzy Set

Computing the centroid of an interval type‐2 fuzzy set (IT2 FS) is an important operation in a type‐2 fuzzy logic system (where it is called type‐reduction), but it is also a potentially time‐consuming operation. In this paper, an enhanced opposite direction searching (EODS) algorithm is presented for doing this. The EODS comes from an early version of the IT2 FS type‐reduction method called the opposite direction searching (ODS) algorithm, which has been proven faster than the most commonly used Enhanced Karnik‐Mendel (EKM) method. The EODS differs from the ODS in two high speed formulas for calculating the centroid endings. Quantitative analysis on the mathematical operations and comparisons performed by EODS, ODS, and EKM algorithms shows that EODS could save about 50% of the calculations and comparisons in relation to ODS. Compared with EKM, it could save about 67% to 80% of the calculations and comparisons. Simulation experiments have been performed to compare EODS with the ODS and EKM methods in terms of average CPU time. The experimental results validate the quantitative analysis.     

Aggregation Using the Linguistic Weighted Average and Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sets

The focus of this paper is the linguistic weighted average (LWA), where the weights are always words modeled as interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2 FSs), and the attributes may also (but do not have to) be words modeled as IT2 FSs; consequently, the output of the LWA is an IT2 FS. The LWA can be viewed as a generalization of the fuzzy weighted average (FWA) where the type-1 fuzzy inputs are replaced by IT2 FSs. This paper presents the theory, algorithms, and an application of the LWA. It is shown that finding the LWA can be decomposed into finding two FWAs. Since the LWA can model more uncertainties, it should have wide applications in distributed and hierarchical decision-making.     

Keeping it simple

So what is green IT? Is it recycling redundant equipment responsibly?Is it switching equipment off at the plug to make huge energysavings? It's all of that, but much more. Michelle Hazeltonexplains why you don't need to be an expert to start makinga difference.