Roulette wheel selection is a popular selection method used in genetic algorithms for choosing individuals for reproduction based on their fitness values. This method mimics the concept of a roulette wheel in gambling, where each individual in the population is assigned a slice of the wheel proportional to their fitness.
The process begins by calculating the total fitness of all individuals in the population. Each individual\“s probability of being selected is then determined by dividing their fitness by the total fitness. This creates a probability distribution where fitter individuals have higher chances of selection. 
To implement roulette wheel selection, a random number between 0 and 1 is generated. The algorithm then iterates through the population, accumulating probabilities until the accumulated value exceeds the random number. The individual at that point is selected for the next generation.
This selection method ensures that better solutions have higher reproduction opportunities while still allowing less fit individuals a chance to be selected, maintaining genetic diversity in the population. |
