Fault tolerant network design inspired by Physarum polycephalum

Abstract

Physarum polycephalum, a true slime mold, is a primitive, unicellular organism that creates networks to transport nutrients while foraging. The design of these natural networks proved to be advanced, e.g. the slime mold was able to find the shortest path through a maze. The underlying principles of this design have been mathematically modeled in literature. As in real life the slime mold can design fault tolerant networks, its principles can be applied to the design of man-made networks. In this paper, an existing model and algorithm are adapted and extended with stimulation and migration mechanisms which encourage formation of alternative paths, optimize edge positioning and allow for automated design. The extended model can then be used to better design fault tolerant networks. The extended algorithm is applied to several national and international network configurations. Results show that the extensions allow the model to capture the fault tolerance requirements more accurately. The resulting extended algorithm overcomes weaknesses in geometric graph design and can be used to design fault tolerant networks such as telecommunication networks with varying fault tolerance requirements.Keywords bio-inspired algorithm · fault tolerant network design · mathematical modeling · network optimization · Physarum polycephalum

An effective solution to numerical and multi-disciplinary design optimization problems using chaotic slime mold algorithm

“…In this concern, SMA provides an optimal solution to minimize the travel path by searching the shortest path [ 55 ]. Houbraken et al have developed an extended fault-tolerant algorithm by utilizing the slime mold concept to improve the fault-tolerant network in the telecommunication sector [ 56 ]. Kropat et al presented a deterministic approach to solving single path and multi-path optimization problems under uncertainty.…”

Cell fusion through slime mould network dynamics

“…Setting p 2 = 0, one can compute all the p i 0 s using equations (2.2)-(2.4) and therefore all Q ij . The flow-conductivity model has been used to find Steiner trees [14], solve the travelling salesman problem [15] and design fault-tolerant networks [16]. It has been applied to creating a shortest path navigation system across the US interstate highway [10], designing railroad networks similar to the Tokyo railroad system [17], designing transportation networks with changing traffic distributions [18], identifying focal nodes for disease spread in epidemiological networks [19] and solving supply chain network design problems [20].…”

Cell fusion through slime mold network dynamics

“…Setting p 2 = 0, one can compute all the p i s using equations ( 2)-( 4) and therefore all Q ij . The flow-conductivity model has been used to find Steiner trees [10], solve the traveling salesman problem [13], and design fault-tolerant networks [5]. It has been applied to creating a shortest path navigation system across the US interstate highway [3], designing railroad networks similar to the Tokyo railroad system [16], designing transportation networks with changing traffic distributions [18], identifying focal nodes for disease spread in epidemiological networks [19], and solving supply chain network design problems [20].…”