Evolving cell array configurations using CGP

A cell array is a proposed type of custom FPGA, where digital circuits can be formed from interconnected configurable cells. In this paper we have presented a means by which CGP might be adapted to evolve configurations of a proposed cell array. As part of doing so, we have suggested an additional genetic operator that exploits modularity by copying sections of the genome within a solution, and investigated its efficacy. Additionally, we have investigated applying selection pressure for parsimony during functional evolution, rather than in a subsequent stage as proposed in other work. Our results show that solutions to benchmark problems can be evolved with a good degree of efficiency, and that compact solutions can be found with no significant impact on the required number of circuit evaluations. © 2011 Springer-Verlag