Multilayer Evolving Fuzzy Neural Networks

Xiaowei Gu

doi:10.1109/TFUZZ.2023.3276263

2023-12-01

DOI：10.1109/TFUZZ.2023.3276263

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摘要

En 中文

It is widely recognized that learning systems have to go deeper to exchange for more powerful representational learning capabilities in order to precisely approximate nonlinear complex problems. However, the best-known computational intelligence approaches with such characteristics, namely, deep neural networks, are often criticized for lacking transparency. In this article, a novel multilayer evolving fuzzy neural network (MEFNN) with a transparent system structure is proposed. The proposed MEFNN is a metalevel stacking ensemble learning system composed of multiple cascading evolving neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ENFISs), processing input data layer-by-layer to automatically learn multilevel nonlinear distributed representations from data. Each ENFIS is an evolving fuzzy system capable of learning from new data sample by sample to self-organize a set of human-interpretable IF- THEN fuzzy rules that facilitate approximate reasoning. Adopting ENFIS as its ensemble component, the multilayer system structure of the MEFNN is flexible and transparent, and its internal reasoning and decision-making mechanism can be explained and interpreted to/by humans. To facilitate information exchange between different layers and attain stronger representation learning capability, the MEFNN utilizes error backpropagation to self-update the consequent parameters of the IF-THEN rules of each ensemble component based on the approximation error propagated backward. To enhance the capability of the MEFNN to handle complex problems, a nonlinear activation function is introduced to modeling the consequent parts of the IF-THEN rules of ENFISs, thereby empowering both the representation and the reflection of nonlinearity in the resulting fuzzy outputs. Numerical examples on a wide variety of challenging (benchmark and real-world) classification and regression problems demonstrate the superior practical performance of the MEFNN, revealing the effectiveness and validity of the proposed approach.

Keyword:

Evolving fuzzy system (EFS)

fuzzy neural network

self-organized

stacking ensemble