fmincon: Is it possible to set a bound for feval?

I have a problem that I run into local minima early on. This will happen all over search space. I don't know more meaningful bounds and equalities for x than I already use. But I know feval should get near to 0 with the correct solution, while it settles at power of 10. Can I set up an upper bound for feval somehow? Should I use another solver?

[Walter Roberson]

Are you sure you mean "feval" and not "fmincon" ?

Answer 1

[Leerrune]

"feval" evaluates the function which is given. Bounds can be defined only if the given function allows. In your case "fmincon".

try "fmincon" with multiple random init. states at first. It helps in most cases. Otherwise try "pattersearch" even "Gentic Algorithm" .

you can find more Tips in http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/8553-optimization-tips-and-tricks and http://orion.uwaterloo.ca/~hwolkowi/henry/reports/talks.d/t09talks.d/09waterloomatlab.d/optimTipsWebinar/html/optimTipsTricksWalkthrough.html