Multidisciplinary aircraft design and optimisation using a robust evolutionary technique with variable fidelity models

An evolutionary optimisation method for Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation (MDO) and aircraft systems design is presented. The method uses a hierarchical topology of analysis tools coupled to a robust parallel evolutionary optimiser. The methodology is applicable to complex engineering problems which are multi-modal, involve approximations, are non differentiable or involve multiple objectives. The paper describes implementation and results for experiments on mathematical test functions, multi-objective and MDO problems in aeronautics. Results indicate that the method is robust and efficient on its application for real world engineering problems.