Complex objective optimization in fuzzy environments

Abstract

Multi-objective optimization can be used to address possible conflicting relationships between multiple objectives. However, some objectives have a fuzzy temporal relationship between them, making it difficult to give a common method to portray the fuzzy temporal relationship. To fill this gap, we propose the concept of complex objectives, which can be described by fuzzy temporal logic that includes both temporal and logical operators. Furthermore, we investigated the optimal control problems of complex objectives and developed a fuzzy system called possibilistic decision systems (PDSs) to establish a framework for optimal control. In PDSs, states of fuzzy systems are determined by a family of variables, and transitions induced by actions between fuzzy states of systems are also fuzzy uncertain and determined by a possibility degree. Importantly, we proved that memoryless strategies are sufficient for optimal control of complex objectives. Finally, the theory presented in this paper is illustrated by a mobile robot simulation.