Distinguishability of interval type-2 fuzzy sets data by analyzing upper and lower membership functions

In this paper, we deal with the problem of classification of interval type-2 fuzzy sets through evaluating their distinguishability. To this end, we exploit a general matching algorithm to compute their similarity measure. The algorithm is based on the aggregation of two core similarity measures applied independently on the upper and lower membership functions of the given pair of interval type-2 fuzzy sets that are to be compared. Based on the proposed matching procedure, we develop an experimental methodology for evaluating the distinguishability of collections of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Experimental results on evaluating the proposed methodology are carried out in the context of classification by considering interval type-2 fuzzy sets as patterns of suitable classification problem instances. We show that considering only the upper and lower membership functions of interval type-2 fuzzy sets is sufficient to (i) accurately discriminate between them and (ii) judge and quantify their distinguishability.     

Image segmentation based on histogram analysis utilizing the cloud model

Both the cloud model and type-2 fuzzy sets deal with the uncertainty of membership which traditional type-1 fuzzy sets do not consider. Type-2 fuzzy sets consider the fuzziness of the membership degrees. The cloud model considers fuzziness, randomness, and the association between them. Based on the cloud model, the paper proposes an image segmentation approach which considers the fuzziness and randomness in histogram analysis. For the proposed method, first, the image histogram is generated. Second, the histogram is transformed into discrete concepts expressed by cloud models. Finally, the image is segmented into corresponding regions based on these cloud models. Segmentation experiments by images with bimodal and multimodal histograms are used to compare the proposed method with some related segmentation methods, including Otsu threshold, type-2 fuzzy threshold, fuzzy C-means clustering, and Gaussian mixture models. The comparison experiments validate the proposed method.     

关于二型模糊集合的一些基本问题

采用集合论的方法给出了单位模糊集合和二型模糊集合及其在一点的限制等定义,使得二型模糊集合更易于理解.通过定义嵌入单位模糊集合来描述一般二型模糊集合,并给出离散、半连通二型模糊集合的表达式.根据论域、主隶属度及隶属函数的特性将二型模糊集合分为四种类型:离散、半连通、连通及复合型,并根据连通的特点将连通二型模糊集合分为单连通及多连通两类.利用支集的闭包（Closure of support,CoS）划分法表述主隶属度及区间二型模糊集合.提出了CoS二、三次划分法分别来表述单、复连通二型模糊集合,并使每一个子区域的上下边界及次隶属函数在该子区域上的限制分别具有相同的解析表述式.最后,探讨了二型模糊集合在一点的限制、主隶属度、支集、嵌入单位模糊集合之间的关系.     

Fuzzy rule interpolation based on principle membership functions and uncertainty grade functions of interval type-2 fuzzy sets

Fuzzy rule interpolation is an important research topic in sparse fuzzy rule-based systems. In this paper, we present a new method for dealing with fuzzy rule interpolation in sparse fuzzy rule-based systems based on the principle membership functions and uncertainty grade functions of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. The proposed method deals with fuzzy rule interpolation based on the principle membership functions and the uncertainty grade functions of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. It can deal with fuzzy rule interpolation with polygonal interval type-2 fuzzy sets and can handle fuzzy rule interpolation with multiple antecedent variables. We also use some examples to compare the fuzzy interpolative reasoning results of the proposed method with the ones of an existing method. The experimental result shows that the proposed method gets more reasonable results than the existing method for fuzzy rule interpolation based on interval type-2 fuzzy sets.     

Concept of Linguistic Variable-Based Fuzzy Ensemble Approach: Application to Interlaced HDTV Sequences

This paper addresses the problem of edge restoration in digital images. Taking advantage of an ensemble approach, multiple type-1 fuzzy filters are combined to reach a decision. The fuzzy logic concept for linguistic variables and possibility theory is discussed with regard to knowledge representation and inference procedures. To improve conventional deinterlacing issues, we adopt type-1 fuzzy set concepts to design a weight-measuring approach. We demonstrate that the fuzzy ensemble approach model is well suited to image processing and provide case studies in the video-deinterlacing field. In our proposed method, five fuzzy membership functions (MFs) of linguistic variable-based fuzzy logic filters are derived from the type-1 (a.k.a. ordinary or primary) fuzzy MF. The weight-measuring process of our proposed model is used to assign weights to six candidate deinterlaced pixels (CDPs) that are interpolated according to edge direction. The use of a different MF for each direction allows the filter to characterize each pixel variation influence independently, according to its direction. The weights from all MFs are multiplied with the CDPs. The results of the empirical trials clearly show that the proposed system can successfully deal with several image types containing motion or detail elements.      

Application for deinterlacing method using edge direction classification and fuzzy inference system

In this paper, we propose an advanced deinterlacing method which uses filters to estimate the edge direction using luminance information. Subsequently, we are able to obtain the luminance values at for missing pixels. The fuzzy logic concept for image processing is discussed with regard to fuzzy membership function representation and fuzzy inference procedures. The fuzzy if-then rules are employed to conduct the determining edge direction. The use of a different membership function for different direction enables the filter to independently characterize separate influences on pixel variation. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method has an enhanced performance, both visually and in terms of the peak signal-to-noise ratio, compared with those of conventional deinterlacing methods.     

Weighted aggregation and fuzzy-concept-guided signal resemblance and expansion for video format conversion

In this paper, we propose an efficient deinterlacing method for HDTV that preserves image structures, edges, and details. In the human visual system, the eyes are more sensitive to high-frequency information such as edge details than low-frequency information such as image background. Therefore, averaging low-pass filter results is not effective for image enhancement. The proposed method is a weighted filtering approach that generates a half-pixel 9-by-9 edge-based line average window. We also propose pixel-resemblance- and pixel-expansion-based fuzzy weights, which are assigned using a triangular membership function. Compared to conventional format conversion methods, the proposed method outperforms all benchmarks in terms of both objective and subjective qualities.     

An interval number distance- and ranking-based method for remotely sensed image fuzzy clustering

ABSTRACT

Fuzzy c-means clustering is an important non-supervised classification method for remote-sensing images and is based on type-1 fuzzy set theory. Type-1 fuzzy sets use singleton values to express the membership grade; therefore, such sets cannot describe the uncertainty of the membership grade. Interval type-2 fuzzy c-means (IT2FCM) clustering and relevant methods are based on interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Real vectors are used to describe the clustering centres, and the average values of the upper and lower membership grades are used to determine the classification of each pixel. Thus, the width information for interval clustering centres and interval membership grades are ignored. The main contribution of this article is to propose an improved IT2FCM* algorithm by adopting interval number distance (IND) and ranking methods, which use the width information of interval clustering centres and interval membership grades, thus distinguishing this method from existing fuzzy clustering methods. Three different IND definitions are tested, and the distance definition proposed by Li shows the best performance. The second contribution of this work is that two fuzzy cluster validity indices, FS- and XB-, are improved using the IND. Three types of multi/hyperspectral remote-sensing data sets are used to test this algorithm, and the experimental results show that the IT2FCM* algorithm based on the IND proposed by Li performs better than the IT2FCM algorithm using four cluster validity indices, the confusion matrix, and the kappa coefficient (κ). Additionally, the improved FS- index has more indicative ability than the original FS- index.     

Generating fuzzy edge images from gradient magnitudes

The representation and processing of edges in images based on notions from fuzzy set theory has become popular in recent years. There are several reasons for this direction, from the vague definition of edges to the inherent uncertainty of digital images. Here, we study the transition from a gradient image, a popular intermediate representation, to a fuzzy edge image. We consider different parametric membership functions to transform the gradients into membership degrees. A histogram-based strategy is then introduced for automatically determining the value of those parameters, adapting the membership functions to the characteristics of each image. The functions are applied on the Canny method for edge detection, resulting in an improvement compared to the classical normalizing approach.     

Calculating Functions of Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Numbers for Fault Current Analysis

In this work, functions of type-2 fuzzy numbers are analyzed. For the special case of interval type-2 fuzzy numbers, the type-2 membership function of the output variable is calculated using the lower and upper membership functions of the input variables and the vertex method. This procedure is used in an application where the type-2 fuzzy fault currents of an electric distribution system are calculated. The results are shown and the advantages of the approach are discussed     

Traffic Flow Data Forecasting Based on Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Sets Theory

This paper proposes a long-term forecasting scheme and implementation method based on the interval type-2 fuzzy sets theory for traffic flow data. The type-2 fuzzy sets have advantages in modeling uncertainties because their membership functions are fuzzy. The scheme includes traffic flow data preprocessing module, type-2 fuzzification operation module and long-term traffic flow data forecasting output module, in which the Interval Approach acts as the core algorithm. The central limit theorem is adopted to convert point data of mass traffic flow in some time range into interval data of the same time range (also called confidence interval data) which is being used as the input of interval approach. The confidence interval data retain the uncertainty and randomness of traffic flow, meanwhile reduce the influence of noise from the detection data. The proposed scheme gets not only the traffic flow forecasting result but also can show the possible range of traffic flow variation with high precision using upper and lower limit forecasting result. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified using the actual sample application.      

A narrow band interval type-2 fuzzy approach for image segmentation

Traditional fuzzy sets capture vagueness through precise numeric membership degrees. This poses a dilemma of excessive precision in describing uncertain phenomenon. Interval type-2 fuzzy sets have shown its effectiveness in handling uncertainties in comparison to the traditional fuzzy sets. In this paper, the interval type-2 fuzzy approach is introduced into the framework of active contour model, which effectively segment images with large uncertainties. However, the computational cost is largely increased by employing the interval type-2 fuzzy set. Therefore, we try to update the pixels within a narrow band region near the contour boundary for reducing the computational cost caused by employing the interval type-2 fuzzy set. Moreover, both spatial and gray constraints are taken into consideration when calculating the fuzzy membership value to retain more image details. Experimental results on synthetic and real images show that the proposed method is effective and efficient, and is relatively independent of initial conditions.     

Type-2 fuzzy modeling for desulphurization of steel process

This paper presents a new type-2 fuzzy logic system model for desulphurization process of a real steel industry in Canada. The type-2 fuzzy logic system permits us to model rule uncertainties where every membership value of an element has a second order membership value of its own. In this paper, we propose an indirect method to create second order membership grades that are amplitudes of type-2 secondary membership functions, where the primary memberships are extracted by implementation of fuzzy clustering approach. In this research, Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is used for the creation of second order membership grades. Furthermore, a reduction scheme is implemented which results in type-1 membership grades. In turn, this leads to a reduction of the complexity of the system. Two methods are used for the estimation of the membership functions: indirect and direct methods. In the indirect method, the system uses an interpolation scheme for the estimation of the most appropriate membership functions. In the direct method, the system is tuned by an inference algorithm for the optimization of the main parametric system. In this case, the parameters are: Schweizer and Sklar t-norm and s-norm, combination of FATI and FITA inference approaches, and Yager defuzzification. Finally, the system model is applied to the desulphurization process of a real steel industry in Canada. It is shown that the proposed type-2 fuzzy logic system is superior in comparison to multiple regression and type-1 fuzzy logic systems in terms of robustness, and error reduction.     

State feedback control of interval type-2 Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems via interval type-2 regional switching fuzzy controllers

The interval type-2 Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems have been proposed to handle nonlinear systems subject to parameter uncertainties. In this paper, a new type of state feedback controller, namely, interval type-2 regional switching fuzzy controller, is proposed to conceive less-conservative stabilisation conditions, which is switched by basing on the values of system states. To further reduce the conservativeness in the stability analysis, the information of lower and upper membership functions is also considered. Stability conditions for the interval type-2 fuzzy closed-loop systems are presented in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Simulation examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Quantification of R-fuzzy sets

The main aim of this paper is to connect R-fuzzy sets and type-2 fuzzy sets, so as to provide a practical means to express complex uncertainty without the associated difficulty of a type-2 fuzzy set. The paper puts forward a significance measure, to provide a means for understanding the importance of the membership values contained within an R-fuzzy set. The pairing of an R-fuzzy set and the significance measure allows for an intermediary approach to that of a type-2 fuzzy set. By inspecting the returned significance degree of a particular membership value, one is able to ascertain its true significance in relation, relative to other encapsulated membership values. An R-fuzzy set coupled with the proposed significance measure allows for a type-2 fuzzy equivalence, an intermediary, all the while retaining the underlying sentiment of individual and general perspectives, and with the adage of a significantly reduced computational burden. Several human based perception examples are presented, wherein the significance degree is implemented, from which a higher level of detail can be garnered. The results demonstrate that the proposed research method combines the high capacity in uncertainty representation of type-2 fuzzy sets, together with the simplicity and objectiveness of type-1 fuzzy sets. This in turn provides a practical means for problem domains where a type-2 fuzzy set is preferred but difficult to construct due to the subjective type-2 fuzzy membership.     

General type-2 fuzzy rough sets based on \alpha -plane Representation theory

Rough sets theory and fuzzy sets theory are mathematical tools to deal with uncertainty, imprecision in data analysis. Traditional rough set theory is restricted to crisp environments. Since theories of fuzzy sets and rough sets are distinct and complementary on dealing with uncertainty, the concept of fuzzy rough sets has been proposed. Type-2 fuzzy set provides additional degree of freedom, which makes it possible to directly handle highly uncertainties. Some researchers proposed interval type-2 fuzzy rough sets by combining interval type-2 fuzzy sets and rough sets. However, there are no reports about combining general type-2 fuzzy sets and rough sets. In addition, the $\alpha $ -plane representation method of general type-2 fuzzy sets has been extensively studied, and can reduce the computational workload. Motivated by the aforementioned accomplishments, in this paper, from the viewpoint of constructive approach, we first present definitions of upper and lower approximation operators of general type-2 fuzzy sets by using $\alpha $ -plane representation theory and study some basic properties of them. Furthermore, the connections between special general type-2 fuzzy relations and general type-2 fuzzy rough upper and lower approximation operators are also examined. Finally, in axiomatic approach, various classes of general type-2 fuzzy rough approximation operators are characterized by different sets of axioms.     

Type-2 Fuzzy Control for Driving State and Behavioral Decisions of Unmanned Vehicle

In this paper, interval type-2 fuzzy sets, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation and the fuzzy control rules are synthesized to realize the control of unmanned vehicle in driving state and behavioral decisions. Compared to the type-1 fuzzy set, type-2 fuzzy sets have more advantages in handling the model based on uncertainties, linguistic information because the membership functions are fuzzy sets. Different membership functions are established for each factor when the unmanned vehicle is driving at different speed intervals. In addition, a new evaluation method is developed to analyze unmanned vehicle’s driving state. Finally, a set of dynamic fuzzy rules are sorted out, which can be applied to the unmanned vehicle’s behavioral decision-making and provide a new idea to related research.      

No-reference image quality assessment using interval type 2 fuzzy sets

Image quality assessment of distorted or decompressed images without any reference to the original image is challenging from computational point of view. Quality of an image is best judged by human observers without any reference image, and evaluated using subjective measures. The paper aims at designing a generic no-reference image quality assessment (NR-IQA) method by incorporating human visual perception in assigning quality class labels to the images. Using fuzzy logic approach, we consider information theoretic entropies of visually salient regions of images as features and assess quality of the images using linguistic values. The features are transformed into fuzzy feature space by designing an algorithm based on interval type-2 (IT2) fuzzy sets. The algorithm measures uncertainty present in the input–output feature space to predict image quality accurately as close to human observations. We have taken a set of training images belonging to five different pre-assigned quality class labels for calculating foot print of uncertainty (FOU) corresponding to each class. To assess the quality class label of the test images, maximum of T-conorm applied on the lower and upper membership functions of the test images belonging to different classes is calculated. Our proposed image quality metric is compared with other no-reference quality metrics demonstrating more accurate results and compatible with subjective mean opinion score metric.     

Stability analysis of interval type-2 fuzzy-model-based control systems.

This paper presents the stability analysis of interval type-2 fuzzy-model-based (FMB) control systems. To investigate the system stability, an interval type-2 Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model, which can be regarded as a collection of a number of type-1 T-S fuzzy models, is proposed to represent the nonlinear plant subject to parameter uncertainties. With the lower and upper membership functions, the parameter uncertainties can be effectively captured. Based on the interval type-2 T-S fuzzy model, an interval type-2 fuzzy controller is proposed to close the feedback loop. To facilitate the stability analysis, the information of the footprint of uncertainty is used to develop some membership function conditions, which allow the introduction of slack matrices to handle the parameter uncertainties in the stability analysis. Stability conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities are derived using a Lyapunov-based approach. Simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed interval type-2 FMB control approach.     

Genetic learning and performance evaluation of interval type-2 fuzzy logic controllers

Type-2 fuzzy sets, which are characterized by membership functions (MFs) that are themselves fuzzy, have been attracting interest. This paper focuses on advancing the understanding of interval type-2 fuzzy logic controllers (FLCs). First, a type-2 FLC is evolved using Genetic Algorithms (GAs). The type-2 FLC is then compared with another three GA evolved type-1 FLCs that have different design parameters. The objective is to examine the amount by which the extra degrees of freedom provided by antecedent type-2 fuzzy sets is able to improve the control performance. Experimental results show that better control can be achieved using a type-2 FLC with fewer fuzzy sets/rules so one benefit of type-2 FLC is a lower trade-off between modeling accuracy and interpretability.