Hybrid Genetic Algorithms for the Traveling Salesman Problem

A comparative analysis is performed on an experimental basis among four different cross-over operators. In order to exploit the benefits of the different operators, a new one (called Mixed Cross-over) is introduced, trading-off the CPU time requirements and the obtained results. A new operator is then proposed, whose goal is to include in the genetic mechanism some heuristic knowledge drawn from the already proposed local-optimization techniques. The performance of the new operator is discussed.