Convolutional neural network optimization using genetic algorithms

This thesis proposes the use of a genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize the accuracy of a convolutional neural network (CNN). The GA modifies the structure of the CNN such as the number of convolutional filters, strides, kernel size, nodes, learning parameters, etc. Each modification of the network is trained and evaluated. Mutation of evolved networks create more successful networks over multiple generations. The final evolved network is 4.77% more accurate than a network proposed in the previous literature. Additionally, the evolved network is 13.4% less computationally complex