Nonlinear system input structure identification: two stage fuzzy curves and surfaces

When modeling a complex, poorly defined, nonlinear problem with hundreds of possible inputs, we must identify the significant inputs before any known nonlinear modeling techniques can be applied. We introduce two stage fuzzy curves and surfaces and use them to 1) automatically and quickly order large numbers of inputs according to their significance, 2) eliminate spurious inputs, and 3) eliminate inputs dependent on the significant inputs.