Mixture extreme learning machine algorithm for robust regression

Abstract

The extreme learning machine (ELM) is a well-known approach for training single hidden layer feedforward neural networks (SLFNs) in machine learning. However, ELM is most effective when used for regression on datasets with simple Gaussian distributed error because it often employs a squared loss in its objective function. In contrast, real-world data is often collected from unpredictable and diverse contexts, which may contain complex noise that cannot be characterized by a single distribution. To address this challenge, we propose a robust mixture ELM algorithm, called Mixture-ELM, that enhances modeling capability and resilience to both Gaussian and non-Gaussian noise. The Mixture-ELM algorithm uses an adjusted objective function that blends Gaussian and Laplacian distributions to approximate any continuous distribution and match the noise. The Gaussian mixture accurately models the residual distribution, while the inclusion of the Laplacian distribution addresses the limitations of the Gaussian distribution in identifying outliers. We derive a solution to the novel objective function using the expectation maximization (EM) and iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) algorithms. We evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm through numerical simulation and experiments on benchmark datasets, thereby demonstrating its superiority over other state-of-the-art machine learning methods in terms of robustness and generalization.