Supporting the design process with hypergraph genetic operators

In this paper an evolutionary technique is proposed as a method for generating new design solutions with genotypes represented in the form of hierarchical hypergraphs. Such hypergraph-based evolutionary design requires the adaptation of traditional evolutionary operators like cross-over and mutation. This paper presents an attempt at defining modified cross-over and mutation operators that act on hierarchical hypergraphs. The application of the proposed transformations is illustrated on examples of designing floor layouts and furniture with the use of the evolutionary method.