Implicit Filtering

Implicit filtering is a way to solve bound-constrained optimization problems for which derivative information is not available. Unlike methods that use interpolation to reconstruct the function and its higher derivatives, implicit filtering builds upon coordinate search and then interpolates to get an approximation of the gradient. The author describes the algorithm, its convergence theory, and a new MATLAB(R) implementation, and includes three case studies. This book is unique in that it is the only one in the area of derivative-free or sampling methods and is accompanied by publicly available software. It is also designed as a software manual and as a reference for implicit filtering - one can approach the book as a consumer of the software, as a student, or as a researcher in sampling and derivative-free methods. The book includes a chapter on convergence theory that is both accessible to students and an overview of recent results on optimization of noisy functions, including results that depend on non-smooth analysis and results on the handling of constraints. Implicit filtering is used in applications in electrical, civil, and mechanical engineering.