The cross-entropy method for optimization of energy harvesting systems
Résumé
This work deals with the optimization of a bistable energy harvesting system through the cross-entropy method, a very appealing stochastic metaheuristic for solving non-convex optimization problems. The proposed optimization framework is applied to an extremely complex problem with a discontinuous constraint, that prevents the use of gradient-based methods. The numerical experiments illustrate the efficiency and robustness of the optimization strategy, allowing to find a global optimum with a speed-up of up to two orders of magnitude compared to an exhaustive search in a refined computational grid.