Description
This article presents a historical account and technical reassessment of the most widely used space mapping (SM) approach to efficient design optimization: the Aggressive Space Mapping (ASM) algorithm. It starts from the invention of the space mapping concept, and briefly makes an overview of the most fundamental SM optimization methods developed until now, in which ASM is framed. It reviews over two decades of ASM evolution, in terms of not only the theoretical contributions directly incorporated into the ASM algorithm, but also in terms of its most significant engineering applications publically documented. Clearly, ASM is not the most powerful and advanced space mapping design optimization approach invented until now. However, the historical evidence proves it is the most widely adopted SM optimization method, both in academia and industry. In the author’s opinion, two main characteristics have made of ASM the most popular SM optimization technique: 1) it is simple, and 2) it is very efficient (when it works, it works extremely well). For those reasons, this article also revisits the ASM algorithm, emphasizing key steps for its successful implementation, as well as typical scenarios where ASM may fail. Finally, some future directions regarding ASM are ventured.
