Illinois Genetic Algorithms Laboratory

Jason Lohn of the NASA Ames Research Center outside Mountain View, CA used a genetic algorithm to design a wide-beam space antenna. The corkscrew shaped antenna, small enough to fit in a wine glass, proved worthy to transmit the needed bandwidth. Lohn expects the antenna to take part in the NASA Space Technology 5 mission which will test three antennas in space. He hopes that five other GA-designed antennas will make it to space this year.

The Technology Review article also highlights the history of evolutionary computation – briefly mentioning the work of Holland, Goldberg, Koza, and others. From jet engine fan blade design to minimizing power consumption of long-distance pipelines, the article cites several applications of genetic algorithms and genetic programming. A good but concise summary of where the field has been and what current issues it faces.

NASA posted an article which further describes their use of evolutionary algorithms.