A beginners guide to artificial immune systems

Artificial Immune Systems (AIS) have recently emerged as a computational intelligence approach that show great promise. Inspired by the complexity of the immune system, computer scientists and engineers have created systems that in some way mimic or capture certain computationally appealing properties of the immune system, with the aim of building more robust and adaptable solutions. In this chapter, we will explore the basics of AIS, charting their brief history, and outlining what type of immunology has served as inspiration. We will see that different immune processes and ideas have been captured within simple artificial systems, each with their own dynamics and application niches. As a final note, we then outline considerations that need to be borne in mind when building your own AIS.