Illinois Genetic Algorithms Laboratory

Always on the lookout for GA applications, and came across this somewhat older but interesting article. Peter Senecal, a UW-Madison Ph.D. student, is using GAs to design better diesel engines. The article says this:

“The results to date have been dramatic. Using a silicon graphics supercomputer, Senecal created a diesel engine design that reduces nitric oxide emissions by three-fold and soot emissions by 50 percent over the best available technology. At the same time, the model reduced fuel consumption by 15 percent.”

The GA considered fuel injection timing, injection pressure, and amount of exhaust recirculation. Additional information can be found here and here.