Fuzzy rule extraction from a trained multilayer neural network

Abstract

This paper focuses on one half of the knowledge acquisition problem for fuzzy systems, namely the acquisition of a fuzzy rule base from a set of input/output data, and in particular on the extraction of a set of fuzzy rules from a trained neural network. Some limitations with previously reported work in this area are first identified. Two simple rule extraction techniques are then described and tested on a well known classification problem. The performance of the resultant rule bases compares more favourably than those reported using alternative techniques.