Demonstration-Programs for the application of the Evolution Strategy to

different problems.



To be able to run the programs, your DOS-computer must have a mathematics

coprocessor and an EGA- or VGA-compatible graphics card and a MICROSOFT-

compatible mouse.

There exist two self extracting files with the demonstration programs.

The directory DEMOVGA.EXE contains the versions for the VGA-Graphic and the

directory DEMOEGA.EXE contains the programs for the EGA-Graphic. You should

first try out if the programs run in the EGA-mode on your computer. For

this just start one of the *.exe in DEMOEGA and look what happens. In

this EGA-mode the resolution is not so high as in the VGA-mode but the

graphics is being built in the background and is switched to the foreground,

when it is ready. This leads to more eye-friendly sequences in comparison

to the VGA-modus, where the graphics is being built in the foreground.

If your VGA-graphics card is not able to work properly in the EGA-mode

you probably must use the VGA-mode.

If there are problems with the mouse install the mousedriver MOUSE.COM.

You will find it also in this directory.



In the moment three programs are available: Poly94.exe, Lens94.exe and

Brach94.exe (the 94 in the program name means, that I wanted to have the

programs ready on the server in 1994...).



Lens94.exe:  By means of Evolution Strategy the shape of an initially

             cuboid light transmissive body is to be changed in such a

             way, that parallel falling rays of light are refracted into

             a single point P on a projection surface.



Poly94.exe:  To a set of datapoints in the two-dimensional plane a

             polynomial is to be find in such a way, that all points are

             described by the polynomial with minimal error. The

             coefficients of the polynomial are to be found with the

             Evolution Strategy.





Brach94.exe: This classical problem was posed by Johann Bernoulli to his

             professional colleagues in 1696. He asked for the track

             between the two points A and B, on which a movable point P

             slides frictionless in shortest time by means of his own

             gravity. The optimal track is to be found with the Evolution

             Strategy.





For some more explanations about these and other demonstration programs,

which will also be available on this server in the near (?) future see

the technical report 

ftp://ftp-bionik.fb10.tu-berlin.de/pub/BIONIK/PAPERS/tr-05-94.ps.Z





License



This software and the documentation is free for the use in schools,

universities and research institutes for educational purposes. It may not

be used for commercial purposes unless you have got the written permission

from the author. Especially without permission it is not allowed to publish

pictures or text produced by the programs. It is also not allowed to modify

any part of the programs.





Limited Warranty



The software, associated files and reference materials are provided "as is",

without warranty as to their performance, merchantibility, or fitness for

any particular purpose. The entire risk as to the results and performance

of this software is assumed by you.

I shall not be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages

resulting from the use of this product. If you do not agree with this

limited warranty or if your state does not allow the exclusion or limitation

of implied warranties or incidental or consequential damages do not use

this software.





Praise and Criticism

I would be glad, if you give me some feedback about your experiences with

the programs. Are the programs useful for your lectures? Are you interested

in having more of these examples avaiable? In that case please give me a

mail. I will inform you, if new programs are avaiable. If you find bugs

or other errors, please also contact me. And last but not least: English

is not my native language. Please be forbearing with me.





Michael Herdy

TU-Berlin

Ackerstr. 71-76, Sekr. ACK1

D-13355 Berlin

Germany

email: herdy@fb10.tu-berlin.de

fon  : +49 30 31472663

fax  : +49 30 31472658