Particle swam optimization based reliability-redundancy allocation in a type-2 fuzzy environment

In this paper, we have addressed the reliability-redundancy allocation problem with a particle swam optimization based technique. The parameters of the system components are actually imprecise or uncertain quantity since those are generally guessed by the designers during the design-time. Thus, important features of the designed system, viz. reliability, costs, weight etc very suitably qualifies to be considered as fuzzy quantity. Our problem formulation considers these parameters as type-2 fuzzy quantity. There are few reports where the problem has been studied under type-1 fuzzy uncertainty. As far as we know, no research has been reported where the problem has been addressed with a particle swam optimization based approach in a type-2 fuzzy environment. Suitable examples are included to demonstrate our approach. Results are compared showing that the type-2 fuzzy uncertainty based approach outperforms other recently reported results.