The Institute for Research and Applications of Fuzzy Modeling (IRAFM) is a scientific place of work belonging to the University of Ostrava in Ostrava, Czech Republic. It is focused on theoretical research and practical development of various soft computing methods, i.e. special mathematical methods which make it possible to deal with imprecise information (usually given using natural language). Such methods can be used for design of more realistic models of ill defined systems. Such models, usually called "fuzzy models", can be used in robust control of complex systems, in multi-criteria decision-making where many criteria can be non-quantifiable, optimization, effective approximation of functions, robust solution of differential equations, filtration of signal, and many others.
The institute has been established in Ostrava in September 1996 under the support of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic. The results of people from Ostrava region, part of them now working in IRAFM, are internationally renowned. The results of IRAFM have significantly contributed to the state of the art of soft computing methods, namely to the theory of mathematical fuzzy logic and the related algebraic functions, fuzzy approximation, general theory of fuzzy IF-THEN rules, general theory of linguistic meaning, approximate reasoning, and multi-criteria decision-making. The workers of IRAFM gave lectures in more than 25 countries in Europe, America and Asia. We also organize international conferences and meetings, for example IFSA’97 (International Fuzzy Systems Association) World Congress (1997, Prague), International Conference “The logic of soft computing” (2005, Ostrava), International Conference EUSFLAT 2007 (European Society for Fuzzy Logic and Technology), (2007, Ostrava).
The institute has been established in Ostrava in September 1996 under the support of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic. The results of people from Ostrava region, part of them now working in IRAFM, are internationally renowned. The results of IRAFM have significantly contributed to the state of the art of soft computing methods, namely to the theory of mathematical fuzzy logic and the related algebraic functions, fuzzy approximation, general theory of fuzzy IF-THEN rules, general theory of linguistic meaning, approximate reasoning, and multi-criteria decision-making. The workers of IRAFM gave lectures in more than 25 countries in Europe, America and Asia. We also organize international conferences and meetings, for example IFSA’97 (International Fuzzy Systems Association) World Congress (1997, Prague), International Conference “The logic of soft computing” (2005, Ostrava), International Conference EUSFLAT 2007 (European Society for Fuzzy Logic and Technology), (2007, Ostrava).
A specific result is development of original conception of Linguistically Oriented Fuzzy Logic Control (LFLC). Effective algorithms implemented in it make the user feel as if “human-like understanding” to natural language expressions. The software has been applied, among others, in fuzzy control of 5 aluminum melting furnaces in Al Invest Company in Břidličná (a small village in the Czech Republic).
Current activities of IRAFM
Theoretical foundations
- Mathematical fuzzy logic in narrow sense (FLn): formal proving, abstract properties and models of fuzzy theories, fuzzy type theory (higher-order fuzzy logic).
- Fuzzy logic in broader sense (FLb): extension of the formalism of fuzzy logic by the semantics of a certain part of natural language, development of the theory of approximate reasoning in linguistically specified knowledge bases and control strategies applied in fuzzy control, fuzzy modeling, and decision-making support.
- Fuzzy approximation: development of methods for approximation of functions, differential equations and relations formalized within fuzzy logic; investigation of their optimality conditions.
Development of special methods and tools
- Software system LFLC (it works under Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP). It can be applied in automatic control, decision-making, and construction of models on the basis of principles provided by fuzzy logic. The system is integrated with Matlab/Simulink.
- Control of various kinds of processes on the basis of known linguistically specified control strategy.
- Managerial decision-making.
- Classification on the basis of qualitative and quantitative information.
- Mining linguistically characterized associations from large numerical data bases.
- Robust solution of differential equations.
- Analysis and forecasting of time series
- Signal filtering.
- Data compression and fusion of pictures.
- Development of new evolutionary algorithms for global optimization in fuzzy models.
Past activities of IRAFM
- Foundations of conceptual analysis of vague data: study of fuzzy concept lattices and related structures.
- Mathematical programming and fuzzy optimization: development of theoretical foundations, methods and algorithms.
- Higher abstract theories of fuzzy automata
The outputs of the institute consist of scientific publications and monographs as well as optimized computer routines making it possible to develop fuzzy models.
