Intelligent Systems for Engineers and Scientists, 3rd Edition

Chapter 9

Hybrid Systems

9.1 Convergence of Techniques

The previous chapters of this book have demonstrated that there is a wide variety of computing techniques that can be applied to particular problems. These include knowledge-based systems, computational intelligence methods, and conventional programs. In many cases the techniques need not be exclusive alternatives to each other but can be seen as complementary tools that can be brought together within a hybrid system. All of the techniques reviewed in this book can, in principle, be mixed with other techniques. This chapter is structured around four ways in which different computational techniques can be complementary:

• Dealing with multifaceted problems. Most real-life problems are complex ...