ABSTRACT
This chapter starts with the history of evolution of heuristics or search algorithms. Various soft computing techniques under derivative-free optimization, such as genetic algorithms (GA), Simulated Annealing, Random Search Method and Downhill Simplex Method, have been discussed elaborately. Techniques under Stochastic Optimization such as Particle Swarm Optimization and Ant Colony Optimization have been covered thereafter. The objective of this chapter is to basically introduce the readers with different soft computing techniques before applying it in a real-life field of application. The chapter ends with an elaborative discussion on the latest developments of heuristics, named after hybridization within GA or Hybrid GA.
