A New Constructive Algorithm for Designing and Training Artificial Neural Networks

摘要

This paper presents a new constructive algorithm, called problem dependent constructive algorithm (PDCA), for designing and training artificial neural networks (ANNs). Unlike most previous studies, PDCA puts emphasis on architectural adaptation as well as function level adaptation. The architectural adaptation is done by determining automatically the number of hidden layers in an ANN and of neurons in hidden layers. The function level adaptation, is done by training each hidden neuron with a different training set. PDCA uses a constructive approach to achieve both the architectural as well as function level adaptation. It has been tested on a number of benchmark classification problems in machine learning and ANNs. The experimental results show that PDCA can produce ANNs with good generalization ability in comparison with other algorithms.