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Ship maintenance service optimisation is of great significance for improving the competitiveness of shipbuilding enterprises. In this paper, we investigate a ship maintenance service scheduling problem considering the deteriorating maintenance time, distributed maintenance tasks, and limited maintenance teams. The objective is to minimise the service span. First, we construct an initial mixed-integer programming model for the studied problem. Then, through the property analysis of the problem with a single maintenance team, an exact scheduling algorithm is proposed. In addition, the lower bound of the problem with multiple maintenance teams is derived. A scheduled rule is developed to obtain the lower bound for the problem. Based on the property analysis, the original mixed-integer programming model is simplified to an improved mathematical programming model. Since the studied problem is NP-hard, this paper proposes two heuristic algorithms and an integrated metaheuristic algorithm based on the variable neighbourhood search to obtain approximate optimal solutions in a reasonable time. In computational experiments, the two models can solve problems on small scale, while metaheuristics can find approximately optimal solutions in each problem category. Moreover, the computational results validate the performance of the proposed integrated metaheuristic in terms of convergence and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lemur optimizer (LO) is a new metaheuristic algorithm that is inspired by the two primary locomotive patterns of the lemurs. However, LO suffers from improper balance between exploration and exploitation phases and sub-optimal solution stagnation due to poor exploration capability. To address these limitations, an improved lemur optimizer (ILO) with dynamic scaling factors and Gaussian mutation is introduced in this paper. The dynamic scaling factors balance the exploration and exploitation transition by dynamically adjusting their values throughout the optimization process. The proposed algorithm incorporates Gaussian mutation to induce diversity in the population and hence improve the exploration capability. The efficiency of the proposed approach is tested on 33 functions including classical benchmark and CEC-2019 test functions, and a comprehensive comparison is made with six other well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation and statistical results indicate superior performance of ILO in achieving optimal solutions compared to the competing algorithms. The algorithm is further employed to address two constrained classical engineering design problems, demonstrating its robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a metaheuristic algorithm, called advanced differential evolution (ADE), by improving the DE algorithm. The ADE algorithm was developed with the goal of creating an optimization framework that addresses the challenges of exploration and exploitation balance, avoiding local minima, utilizing chaos theory for diverse initialization, and improving solution quality and convergence speed. By incorporating these features, ADE aims to enhance the effectiveness of optimization processes. The proposed algorithm utilizes chaos theory to generate the initial population, which is subsequently divided into two sub-populations with adaptive sizes. The size of each sub-population is determined using a formula based on the number of iterations during the algorithm's execution. The first sub-population has a larger size in the beginning and the second one has a smaller size, but the total size of these two populations is always constant. The main contribution of this paper is the proposal of two novel improved differential evolution algorithms, namely MDE1 and MDE2, which are utilized for exploration within these sub-populations. The proposed ADE is tested on 29 well-known benchmarks and six engineering problems, and the results are compared with seven other algorithms. Various statistical experiments are carried out showing that the proposed algorithm provides significant superiority over other well-known algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm termed the Fossa Optimization Algorithm (FOA), which emulates the natural hunting behavior of the fossa in its habitat. FOA draws its core inspiration from the two-stage hunting technique of the fossa, involving an initial attack on a spotted lemur followed by a pursuit through the trees. The theoretical framework of FOA is elaborated, and its implementation is mathematically modeled in two distinct phases: (i) exploration, which simulates the fossa's positional adjustments during the initial attack on the lemur, and (ii) exploitation, which models the positional changes of the fossa during the chase. The efficacy of FOA is tested against twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite, as well as four engineering design challenges. The optimization results demonstrate FOA's strong capabilities in both exploration and exploitation, maintaining a balance that facilitates convergence to optimal solutions. FOA's performance is benchmarked against twelve established algorithms, showing that it consistently outperforms its competitors by delivering superior results and ranking as the top optimizer in most of the evaluated functions. These findings indicate that FOA is highly effective in addressing optimization tasks in real-world scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic dispatch (ED) problem is a popular optimization problem in electrical engineering. Many studies that handled ED problem employed metaheuristics as the optimization technique. Unfortunately, these metaheuristics are old or the existing ones. Meanwhile, ED problem is not the favourite constrained case in studies that introduced a novel metaheuristic. This research introduces a novel metaheuristic called quadratic time optimization (QTO). QTO comprises three sequential searches where both diversification and intensification are blended in every search. But the portion of both orientations changes by following the quadratic time. The appraisal of QTO is performed by employing it to solve both unconstrained and constrained problems. The 23 traditional functions represent the unconstrained problem while economic load dispatch (ELD) problem with valve point effect and spinning reserve problem represents the constrained problem. In both appraisals, there are five novel metaheuristics represent the benchmarks, including: walrus optimization algorithm (WaOA), coati optimization algorithm (COA), total interaction algorithm (TIA), addax optimization algorithm (AOA), and language education optimization (LEO). The result shows the competitiveness of the proposed QTO in handling both unconstrained and constrained problems. QTO becomes the first best in 8 functions out of 23 functions including five high dimension unimodal functions, two high dimension multimodal functions, and one fixed dimension multimodal functions. The result also shows that QTO is competitive in three use cases in ELD problems as the ratio between the range and average total cost among metaheuristics for the first, second, and third cases is 0.72, 0.04, and 0.02 percent consecutively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the modified Chernobyl disaster optimizer (CDO) method for DC motor control to find the optimal proportional integral derivative (PID) settings. DC motors are widely used machinery. DC motors are also simple to use. The detonation of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor core served as the inspiration for the idea and guiding principles of the CDO. CDO has limitations in the stability of exploration and exploitation areas. This research aims to obtain a new balance of exploration and exploitation. This study suggests incorporating the levy flight and chaotic algorithm (CA) techniques to enhance the CDO method. This study was conducted with the MATLAB/Simulink software. A comparative technique, which included the marine predator algorithm (MPA), golden jackal optimization (GJO), and CDO, was utilized to determine the performance of the MCDO method. According to the study’s findings, the MCDO method’s overshoot value outperformed all other approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain efficiency is a major challenge in today's business environment, where efficient resource allocation and coordination of activities are essential for competitive advantage. Traditional efficiency strategies often struggle for resources for the complex and dynamic network. In response, bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithms have emerged as powerful tools to solve these optimization problems. Referring to the random search nature of metaheuristic algorithms and emphasizing that no metaheuristic algorithm is the best optimizer for all optimization applications, the No Free Lunch (NFL) theorem encourages researchers to design newer algorithms to be able to provide more effective solutions to optimization problems. Motivated by the NFL theorem, the innovation and novelty of this paper is in designing a new meta-heuristic algorithm called Bobcat Optimization Algorithm (BOA) that imitates the natural behavior of bobcats in the wild. The basic inspiration of BOA is derived from the hunting strategy of bobcats during the attack towards the prey and the chase process between them. The theory of BOA is stated and then mathematically modeled in two phases (i) exploration based on the simulation of the bobcat's position change while moving towards the prey and (ii) exploitation based on simulating the bobcat's position change during the chase process to catch the prey. The performance of BOA is evaluated in optimization to handle the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100, as well as to address CEC 2020. The optimization results show that BOA has a high ability in exploration, exploitation, and balance them during the search process in order to achieve a suitable solution for optimization problems. The results obtained from BOA are compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The findings show that BOA has been successful in handling the CEC 2017 test suite in 89.65, 79.31, 93.10, and 89.65% of the functions for the problem dimension equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100, respectively. Also, the findings show that in order to handle the CEC 2020 test suite, BOA has been successful in 100% of the functions of this test suite. The statistical analysis confirms that BOA has a significant statistical superiority in the competition with the compared algorithms. Also, in order to analyze the efficiency of BOA in dealing with real world applications, twenty-two constrained optimization problems from CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems have been selected. The findings show that BOA has been successful in 90.90% of CEC2011 test suite optimization problems and in 100% of engineering design problems. In addition, the efficiency of BOA to handle SCM applications has been challenged to solve ten case studies in the field of sustainable lot size optimization. The findings show that BOA has successfully provided superior performance in 100% of the case studies compared to competitor algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a novel optimization algorithm called the OX optimizer, inspired by oxen animals, which are characterized by their great strength. The OX optimizer is designed to address the challenges posed by complex, high-dimensional optimization problems. The design of the OX optimizer embodies a fundamental symmetry between global and local search processes. This symmetry ensures a balanced and effective exploration of the solution space, highlighting the algorithm's innovative contribution to the field of optimization. The OX optimizer has been evaluated on CEC2022 and CEC2017 IEEE competition benchmark functions. The results demonstrate the OX optimizer's superior performance in terms of convergence speed and solution quality compared to existing state-of-the-art algorithms. The algorithm's robustness and adaptability to various problem landscapes highlight its potential as a powerful tool for solving diverse optimization tasks. Detailed analysis of convergence curves, search history distributions, and sensitivity heatmaps further support these findings. Furthermore, the OX optimizer has been applied to optimize support vector machines (SVMs), emphasizing parameter selection and feature optimization. We tested it on the NSL-KDD dataset to evaluate its efficacy in an intrusion detection system. The results demonstrate that the OX optimizer significantly enhances SVM performance, facilitating effective exploration of the parameter space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Marine Predators Algorithm (MPA) is a swarm intelligence algorithm developed based on the foraging behavior of the ocean's predators. This algorithm has drawbacks including, insufficient population diversity, leading to trapping in local optima and poor convergence. To mitigate these drawbacks, this paper introduces an enhanced MPA based on Adaptive Sampling with Maximin Distance Criterion (AM) and the horizontal and vertical crossover operators – i.e. Adaptive Crossover-based MPA (AC-MPA). The AM approach is used to generate diverse and well-distributed candidate solutions. Whereas the horizontal and vertical crossover operators maintain the population diversity during the search process. The performance of AC-MPA was tested using 51 benchmark functions from CEC2017, CEC2020, and CEC2022, with varying degrees of dimensionality, and the findings are compared with those of its basic version, variants, and numerous well-established metaheuristics. Additionally, 11 engineering optimization problems were utilized to verify the capabilities of the AC-MPA in handling real-world optimization problems. The findings clearly show that AC-MPA performs well in terms of its solution accuracy, convergence, and robustness. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm demonstrates considerable advantages in solving engineering problems, proving its effectiveness and adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In metropolitan cities, it is very complicated to govern the optimum routes for garbage collection vehicles due to high waste production and very dense population. Furthermore, wrongly designed routes are the source of wasting time, fuel and other resources in the collection of municipal trash procedure. The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) published between 2011 and 2023 was systematically analysed. The majority of the surveyed research compute the waste collecting problems using metaheuristic approaches. This manuscript serves two purposes: first, categorising the VRP and its variants in the field of waste collection; second, examining the role played by most of the metaheuristics in the solution of the VRP problems for a waste collection. Three case study of Asia continent has been analysed and the results show that the metaheuristic algorithms have the capability in providing good results for large-scale data. Lastly, some promising paths ranging from highlighting research gap to future scope are drawn to encourage researchers to conduct their research work in the field of waste management route problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a methodology to solve optimization problems with dynamic-size solution vectors containing continuous and integer variables. It is achieved by reformulating the original problem through a bilevel optimization approach and implementing metaheuristic techniques to solve it. In the selected case study, the optimization problem corresponds to tuning a neuro-fuzzy controller (NFC) that operates in a biodiesel production system for controlling temperature. The NFC performs well and is especially robust to disturbances, but due to its complexity, it is difficult to determine the best set of parameters for its use. This has led to biased searches based on criteria such as the experiences of designers. With the proposed method, it was possible to obtain a tuning that—when implemented in a simulation—led to results that surpassed those documented in the literature. Finally, the proposal offers flexibility for implementation with other controllers that have similar architectures and can be integrated into various other plants or processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the Love Evolution Algorithm (LEA), a novel evolutionary algorithm inspired by the stimulus–value–role theory. The optimization process of the LEA includes three phases: stimulus, value, and role. Both partners evolve through these phases and benefit from them regardless of the outcome of the relationship. This inspiration is abstracted into mathematical models for global optimization. The efficiency of the LEA is validated through numerical experiments with CEC2017 benchmark functions, outperforming seven metaheuristic algorithms as evidenced by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Friedman test. Further tests using the CEC2022 benchmark functions confirm the competitiveness of the LEA compared to seven state-of-the-art metaheuristics. Lastly, the study extends to real-world problems, demonstrating the performance of the LEA across eight diverse engineering problems. Source codes of the LEA are publicly available at https://ww2.mathworks.cn/matlabcentral/fileexchange/159101-love-evolution-algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces a novel stochastic optimization method termed the Best-Other Algorithm (BOA). The nomenclature reflects its reliance on the best member, which is amalgamated with other entities. BOA, a metaphor-free swarm-based metaheuristic, comprises three directed searches. The first involves subtracting the best member from a randomly selected member. The second entails determining the midpoint between the best member, and another randomly chosen member. The third centers around the midpoint between the best member and a random solution along the space. The efficacy of BOA is evaluated by challenging it to solve a collection of 23 functions. In this evaluation, BOA is pitted against five other metaheuristics: Northern Goshawk Optimization (NGO), Zebra Optimization Algorithm (ZOA), Coati Optimization Algorithm (COA), Migration Algorithm (MA), and Osprey Optimization Algorithm (OOA). The findings indicate the superiority of BOA over its counterparts. BOA outperforms NGO, ZOA, COA, MA, and OOA in 21, 15, 16, 15, and 17 functions, respectively. These results underscore the pivotal role of the best member as a reference and the comparatively lesser significance of the neighborhood search as the search space diminishes during the iteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the advantages of the Two Degree of Freedom Proportional-Integral-Derivative (2DOF_PID) controller in tracking the reference signal and rejecting the disturbance signal at the same time. Three types of metaheuristic optimization algorithms are employed for tuning the controller's parameters which are Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Dragonfly Algorithm (DA). These three algorithms have in common that they combine the exploratory concept (global search) and the exploitative concept (local search) in order to reach the optimal global solution. The effectiveness of these algorithms was taken advantage of to improve the performance of the control system that contains the controller. Second and third order plants were adopted for the purpose of testing, evaluating, and comparing the performance of the control system. This aim was accomplished by using each of the optimization algorithms for each plant. The simulation results showed the superiority of the DA in terms of obtaining the lowest value of the Integral Absolute Error (IAE) as the cost function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a novel nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called Frilled Lizard Optimization (FLO), which emulates the unique hunting behavior of frilled lizards in their natural habitat. FLO draws its inspiration from the sit-and-wait hunting strategy of these lizards. The algorithm's core principles are meticulously detailed and mathematically structured into two distinct phases: (i) an exploration phase, which mimics the lizard's sudden attack on its prey, and (ii) an exploitation phase, which simulates the lizard's retreat to the treetops after feeding. To assess FLO's efficacy in addressing optimization problems, its performance is rigorously tested on fifty-two standard benchmark functions. These functions include unimodal, high-dimensional multimodal, and fixed-dimensional multimodal functions, as well as the challenging CEC 2017 test suite. FLO's performance is benchmarked against twelve established metaheuristic algorithms, providing a comprehensive comparative analysis. The simulation results demonstrate that FLO excels in both exploration and exploitation, effectively balancing these two critical aspects throughout the search process. This balanced approach enables FLO to outperform several competing algorithms in numerous test cases. Additionally, FLO is applied to twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four complex engineering design problems, further validating its robustness and versatility in solving real-world optimization challenges. Overall, the study highlights FLO's superior performance and its potential as a powerful tool for tackling a wide range of optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image contrast is an important factor in distinguishing objects in the image from their background. Low-contrast images, caused by various factors such as poor lighting, are insufficient for human visual perception and many image processing applications. Therefore, image contrast enhancement (ICE) is a necessary preprocessing step in different image processing applications. The main purpose of ICE is to make image objects more easily distinguishable and to improve the quality of visual information in the image. In this paper, image contrast enhancement is studied as an optimization problem. First, a modified version of the gray wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm, a population-based meta-heuristic that mimics the social leadership and hunting behavior of gray wolves in nature, is adapted to the ICE problem. Second, a novel variant of GWO is proposed using Halton low-discrepancy sequence in the population initialization phase, instead of starting completely randomly. Third, unlike previous studies, an effective metric is used as a fitness function to measure the image quality by focusing on the contrast change without using a reference image. The experimental results on the TID2013 and CSIQ datasets show that the proposed Halton sequence-initialized GWO outperforms other variant metaheuristic algorithms and traditional histogram equalization-based methods, according to all utilized various evaluation metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two problems in the development of swarm-based metaheuristic. First, there are not any metaheuristic is able to solve all problems superiorly. Second, the cross-dimension mapping between the entity and its reference during performing the directed search is rare to find. Based on these problems, this work introduces a new metaphorfree swarm-based metaheuristic called the triple-shake algorithm (TSA). As its name suggests, TSA consists of three directed searches. The reference in the first search is the balance mixture between the finest entity and the member of permutation set. The reference in the second search is the balance mixture between the finest entity and a randomly chosen entity. The reference in the third search is the finest entity only. But the cross-dimension mapping is performed in this third search with 50 percent probability. In the benchmark assessment, TSA is compared with zebra optimization algorithm (ZOA), walrus optimization algorithm (WaOA), migration algorithm (MA), total interaction algorithm (TIA), and one-toone based optimization (OOBO). The result indicates the dominance of TSA among its comparators. TSA is better than ZOA, WaOA, MA, TIA, and OOBO in 21, 19, 17, 19, and 22 functions consecutively out of 23 functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The no-free-lunch (NFL) theory has become the main reason of developing new metaheuristics in decades. Besides, the strict dimension mapping has been implemented in many population-based metaheuristics, especially the swarm-based metaheuristics. Regarding this problem, this paper proposes a new swarm-based metaheuristics called focus and shake algorithm (FSA). FSA has novel approach in the dimension mapping between the agent and its reference during the directed motion. It combines the strict dimension mapping called as focus approach and the randomized dimension mapping called as shake approach to enhance its exploration ability. FSA deploys two directed motions based on two references. The first reference is constructed based on the balance mixture between two finer agents while the second reference is constructed based on the balance mixture of the finest agent and a randomly picked agent. In the competing assessment, FSA competes with five brand new swarm-based metaheuristics: migration algorithm (MA), total interaction algorithm (TIA), lyrebird optimization algorithm (LOA), osprey optimization algorithm (OOA), and kookaburra optimization algorithm (KOA). The result exhibits that FSA is finer than MA, TIA, LOA, OOA, and KOA in 19, 21, 21, 19, and 20 functions out of 23 functions respectively. The result also shows that the superiority of FSA takes place in both unimodal and multimodal problems. In the future, the cross-dimension mapping can be more explored to develop finer swarm-based metaheuristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel metaheuristic named the stochastic shaking algorithm (SSA), which is rooted in swarm intelligence principles. The innovation lies in its unique utilization of iteration for selecting references during guided searches through a stochastic approach. The optimization process involves two sequential steps: the primary reference in the first step is the finest swarm member, while in the second step, it is the mean of all finer swarm members plus the finest one. This primary reference is then combined with a randomly chosen solution within the space, serving as the secondary reference. SSA undergoes evaluation in two contexts. The first involves assessing its performance using a set of 23 classic functions as a theoretical use case. The second involves tackling the economic load dispatch problem (ELD), a practical use case featuring a system with 13 generators of various energy resources. The study compares SSA against five other metaheuristics--One to One Based Optimization (OOBO), Kookaburra Optimization Algorithm (KOA), Language Education Optimization (LEO), Total Interaction Algorithm (TIA), and Walrus Optimization Algorithm (WaOA). Results indicate SSA's superiority over OOBO, KOA, LEO, TIA, and WaOA in 21, 13, 11, 16, and 14 functions out of 23 functions, respectively. Additionally, the evaluation of the economic load dispatch problem reveals intense competition among the six metaheuristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply Chain (SC) Optimization is a key activity in today's industry with the goal of increasing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and improving customer satisfaction. Traditional optimization methods often struggle to effectively use resources while handling complex and dynamic Supply chain networks. This paper introduces a novel biomimetic metaheuristic algorithm called the Wombat Optimization Algorithm (WOA) for supply chain optimization. This algorithm replicates the natural behaviors observed in wombats living in the wild, particularly focusing on their foraging tactics and evasive maneuvers towards predators. The theory of WOA is described and then mathematically modeled in two phases: (i) exploration based on the simulation of wombat movements during foraging and trying to find food and (ii) exploitation based on simulating wombat movements when diving towards nearby tunnels to defend against its predators. The effectiveness of WOA in addressing optimization challenges is assessed by handling the CEC 2017 test suite across various problem dimensions, including 10, 30, 50, and 100. The findings of the optimization indicate that WOA demonstrates a strong ability to effectively manage exploration and exploitation, and maintains a balance between them throughout the search phase to deliver optimal solutions for optimization problems. A total of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms are called upon to test their performance against WOA in the optimization process. The outcomes of the simulations reveal that WOA outperforms the other algorithms, achieving superior results across most benchmark functions and securing the top ranking as the most efficient optimizer. Using a Wilcoxon rank sum test statistical analysis, it has been proven that WOA outperforms other algorithms significantly. WOA is put to the test with twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems to showcase its ability to solve real-world optimization problems. The results of the simulations demonstrate that WOA excels in real-world applications by delivering superior solutions and outperforming its competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combinational logic circuits (CLCs) are basic building blocks of a system and optimization of these circuits in terms of reduced gates, transistors, or levels will lead to reduced area on chip, reduced power, and improved speed. Simulated annealing (SA) is a thermo-inspired metaheuristic used for solving various engineering and non-engineering problems. SA is also used for the realization and optimization of CLCs. Circuits with a large number of inputs and outputs require more generations for realization. Realization of the optimal circuit with fewer generations is desired as realization time increases with increase in the number of generations. In this paper, an attempt is made to realize circuits using population-based SA with fewer generations. SA with partitioning approach is proposed in this paper for circuits that could not be realized with fewer preset generations. To evaluate the performance of the proposed work, benchmark circuits from LGSynth'91 are considered, and it is observed that the success rate improved and realization time reduced with the proposed partitioning approach. During the evaluation, it is also observed that the gate count was reduced by 2.5–77.39% and the transistor count was reduced by 7.69–95.53% on using proposed work with fewer generations over circuits reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a Modified Chicken Swarm Optimization (MCSO) in which the local optima and early convergence problem of Chicken Swarm Optimization (CSO) is addressed and solved. The CSO adopted the Swarm Intelligence (SI) of chickens to solve the optimization problem in which the behaviour of roosters, hens, and chicks for food search is mathematically formulated. Hens follow their group rooster, whereas mother hen is followed by chicks in search of food. The problem occurs whenever the rooster follows the wrong path and is stuck in the local optima so the mother hen and, therefore, the chick. This situation leads to early convergence and may not provide global optimization. Most of the existing research studies focused on solving the local optima problem of hens. Hence, there is a need to address the local optima problem of roosters as well. The paper offers a solution to this problem by using the randomness phenomenon of Levy's Fight. Levy's flight is offered to guide the roosters, hens, and chicks, which allows the chickens to choose a random direction in a situation when there is no way to find the optimal solution. The inclusion of Levy's flight enhances the self-learning capability of the chicken. The MCSO is tested on the benchmark functions, IEEE CEC-2017 functions and an engineering problem. The results are validated by a comparative analysis with well-known SI agorithms. The results indicate that the MCSO provides competitive performance. The results are statistically verified with the win-tie-loss, Bonferroni-Dunn post-hoc, and Wilcoxon tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new swarm-based metaheuristic that is also enriched with the crossover technique called swarm flip-crossover algorithm (SFCA) is introduced in this work. SFCA uses swarm intelligence as its primary technique and the crossover as its secondary one. It consists of three searches in every iteration. The swarm member walks toward the best member as the first search. The central point of the swarm becomes the target in the second search. There are two walks in the second search. The first walk is getting closer to the target, while the second is avoiding the target. The better result between these two walks becomes the candidate for the replacement. In the third search, the swarm member performs balance arithmetic crossover with the central point of the space or jumps to the opposite location within the area (flipping). The assessment is taken by confronting SFCA with five new metaheuristics: slime mold algorithm (SMA), golden search optimization (GSO), osprey optimization algorithm (OOA), coati optimization algorithm (COA), and walrus optimization algorithm (WaOA) in handling the set of 23 functions. The result shows that SFCA performs consecutively better than SMA, GSO, OOA, COA, and WaOA in 20, 23, 17, 17, and 17 functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the Botox Optimization Algorithm (BOA), a novel metaheuristic inspired by the Botox operation mechanism. The algorithm is designed to address optimization problems, utilizing a human-based approach. Taking cues from Botox procedures, where defects are targeted and treated to enhance beauty, the BOA is formulated and mathematically modeled. Evaluation on the CEC 2017 test suite showcases the BOA's ability to balance exploration and exploitation, delivering competitive solutions. Comparative analysis against twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms demonstrates the BOA's superior performance across various benchmark functions, with statistically significant advantages. Moreover, application to constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite highlights the BOA's effectiveness in real-world optimization tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many recent swarm-based metaheuristics are trapped in the exploitation of the highest quality as the main or the only reference and the neighbourhood search with the reduction of local search space during the iteration. Regarding to this issue, this paper introduces a novel metaheuristic called swarm space hopping algorithm (SSHA). SSHA consists of three searches. First, a directed search toward the highest quality is performed. Second, the directed search toward the resultant of better agents or away from the other agent is performed. Third, the arithmetic crossover between the agent and a randomized solution in the first half or second half of space is performed. In this work, three evaluations are performed to assess the performance of SSHA. The first evaluation is the benchmark evaluation to compare the performance of SSHA with other recent metaheuristics: northern goshawk optimization (NGO), zebra optimization algorithm (ZOA), clouded leopard optimization (CLO), osprey optimization algorithm (OOA), and total interaction algorithm (TIA). The result exhibits that SSHA is better than NGO, ZOA, CLO, OOA, and TIA in 21, 20, 17, 17, and 21 functions. In the second evaluation, the individual search evaluation to compare the contribution between the first and second searches is performed, with the result that the second search outperforms the first search. The third evaluation is performed to assess the contribution of the third search in the optimization process, and the result shows that the contribution of the third search is significant only in three functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new metaphor-free metaheuristic search called the swarm bipolar algorithm (SBA). SBA is developed mainly based on the non-free-lunch (NFL) doctrine, which mentions the non-existence of any general optimizer appropriate to answer all varieties of problems. The construction of SBA is based on splitting the swarm into two equal-sized swarms to diversify the searching process while performing intensification within the subswarms. There are two types of finest swarm members: the finest swarm member for the whole swarm and the finest swarm member in every sub-swarm. There are four directed searches performed in every iteration: (1) search toward the finest swarm member, (2) search toward the finest sub-swarm member, (3) search toward the middle between two finest sub-swarm members, and (4) search relative to the randomly picked swarm member from another sub-swarm. The performance of SBA is assessed through two assessments with a set of 23 functions representing the optimization problem. In the benchmark assessment, SBA is contended with five metaheuristics: northern goshawk optimization (NGO), language education optimization (LEO), coati optimization algorithm (COA), fully informed search algorithm (FISA), and total interaction algorithm (TIA). The result presents the superiority of SBA among its contenders by being better than NGO, LEO, COA, FISA, and TIA in 21, 16, 16, 21, and 18 functions. The single search assessment is performed to evaluate each strategy involved in SBA. The result shows that the search toward the middle between the two finest sub-swarm members is the best among the four searches in SBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm named the Pufferfish Optimization Algorithm (POA), that imitates the natural behavior of pufferfish in nature, is introduced in this paper. The fundamental inspiration of POA is adapted from the defense mechanism of pufferfish against predators. In this defense mechanism, by filling its elastic stomach with water, the pufferfish becomes a spherical ball with pointed spines, and as a result, the hungry predator escapes from this threat. The POA theory is stated and then mathematically modeled in two phases: (i) exploration based on the simulation of a predator's attack on a pufferfish and (ii) exploitation based on the simulation of a predator's escape from spiny spherical pufferfish. The performance of POA is evaluated in handling the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that POA has achieved an effective solution with the appropriate ability in exploration, exploitation, and the balance between them during the search process. The quality of POA in the optimization process is compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that POA provides superior performance by achieving better results in most of the benchmark functions in order to solve the CEC 2017 test suite compared to competitor algorithms. Also, the effectiveness of POA to handle optimization tasks in real-world applications is evaluated on twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems. Simulation results show that POA provides effective performance in handling real-world applications by achieving better solutions compared to competitor algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new swarm-based metaheuristic, namely the enriched coati osprey algorithm (ECOA), is proposed in this paper. As its name suggests, ECOA hybridizes two new metaheuristics, the coati optimization algorithm (COA) and the osprey optimization algorithm (OOA). ECOA is constructed by five searches performed sequentially by the swarm members. The first three are directed searches, while the last two are neighborhood searches. All three directed searches are adopted from COA and OOA. Meanwhile, the four-bordered neighborhood search is developed based on a new approach. During the assessment, ECOA was challenged to overcome the set of 23 functions and contended with five new metaheuristics: total interaction algorithm (TIA), golden search optimization (GSO), average and subtraction-based optimization (ASBO), COA, and OOA. The result shows that ECOA outperforms TIA, GSO, ASBO, COA, and OOA in 16, 23, 18, 21, and 21 functions. Meanwhile, the individual search test result shows that the directed searches perform better than the neighborhood searches. Moreover, the directed search toward the best member becomes the most dominant search. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In software engineering, the planning and budgeting stages of a software project are of great importance to all stakeholders, including project managers as well as clients. The estimated costs and scheduling time needed to develop any software project before and/or during startup form the basis of a project's success. The main objective of soft- ware estimation techniques is to determine the actual effort and/or time required for project development. The use of machine learning methods to address the estimation problem has, in general, proven remarkably successful for many engineering problems. In this study, a fully connected neural network (FCNN) model and a metaheuristic, gray wolf optimizer (GWO), called GWO-FC, is proposed to tackle the software development effort estimation (SEE) problem. The GWO is integrated with FCNN to optimize the FCNN parameters in order to enhance the accuracy of the obtained results by improving the FCNN's ability to explore the parameter search field and avoid falling into local optima. The proposed technique was evaluated utilizing various benchmark SEE datasets. Furthermore, various recent algorithms from the literature were employed to verify the GWO-FC performance. In terms of accuracy, comparative outcomes reveal that the GWO-FC performs better than other methods in most datasets and evaluation criteria. Experimental outcomes reveal the strong potential of the GWO-FC method to achieve reliable estimation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper develops a novel hybrid approach, called hybrid particle swarm optimization–teaching–learning-based optimization (hPSO-TLBO), by combining two metaheuristic algorithms to solve optimization problems. The main idea in hPSO-TLBO design is to integrate the exploitation ability of PSO with the exploration ability of TLBO. The meaning of "exploitation capabilities of PSO" is the ability of PSO to manage local search with the aim of obtaining possible better solutions near the obtained solutions and promising areas of the problem-solving space. Also, "exploration abilities of TLBO" means the ability of TLBO to manage the global search with the aim of preventing the algorithm from getting stuck in inappropriate local optima. hPSO-TLBO design methodology is such that in the first step, the teacher phase in TLBO is combined with the speed equation in PSO. Then, in the second step, the learning phase of TLBO is improved based on each student learning from a selected better student that has a better value for the objective function against the corresponding student. The algorithm is presented in detail, accompanied by a comprehensive mathematical model. A group of benchmarks is used to evaluate the effectiveness of hPSO-TLBO, covering various types such as unimodal, high-dimensional multimodal, and fixed-dimensional multimodal. In addition, CEC 2017 benchmark problems are also utilized for evaluation purposes. The optimization results clearly demonstrate that hPSO-TLBO performs remarkably well in addressing the benchmark functions. It exhibits a remarkable ability to explore and exploit the search space while maintaining a balanced approach throughout the optimization process. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted to evaluate the performance of hPSO-TLBO against twelve widely recognized metaheuristic algorithms. The evaluation of the experimental findings illustrates that hPSO-TLBO consistently outperforms the competing algorithms across various benchmark functions, showcasing its superior performance. The successful deployment of hPSO-TLBO in addressing four engineering challenges highlights its effectiveness in tackling real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most significant financial benefits of a shared mobility mode such as ridesharing is cost savings. For this reason, a lot of studies focus on the maximization of cost savings in shared mobility systems. Cost savings provide an incentive for riders to adopt ridesharing. However, if cost savings are not properly allocated to riders or the financial benefit of cost savings is not sufficient to attract riders to use a ridesharing mode, riders will not accept a ridesharing mode even if the overall cost savings is significant. In a recent study, the concept of discount-guaranteed ridesharing has been proposed to provide an incentive for riders to accept ridesharing services through ensuring a minimal discount for drivers and passengers. In this study, an algorithm is proposed to improve the performance of the discount-guaranteed ridesharing systems. Our approach combines a success rate-based self-adaptation scheme with an evolutionary computation approach. We propose a new self-adaptive metaheuristic algorithm based on success rate and differential evolution for the Discount-Guaranteed Ridesharing Problem (DGRP). We illustrate effectiveness of the proposed algorithm by comparing the results obtained using our proposed algorithm with other competitive algorithms developed for this problem. Preliminary results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms other competitive algorithms in terms of performance and convergence rate. The results of this study are consistent with the empirical experience that two people working together are more likely to come to a correct decision than they would if working alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many optimization problems in engineering and industrial design applications can be formulated as optimization problems with highly nonlinear objectives, subject to multiple complex constraints. Solving such optimization problems requires sophisticated algorithms and optimization techniques. A major trend in recent years is the use of nature-inspired metaheustic algorithms (NIMA). Despite the popularity of nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms, there are still some challenging issues and open problems to be resolved. Two main issues related to current NIMAs are: there are over 540 algorithms in the literature, and there is no unified framework to understand the search mechanisms of different algorithms. Therefore, this paper attempts to analyse some similarities and differences among different algorithms and then presents a generalized evolutionary metaheuristic (GEM) in an attempt to unify some of the existing algorithms. After a brief discussion of some insights into nature-inspired algorithms and some open problems, we propose a generalized evolutionary metaheuristic algorithm to unify more than 20 different algorithms so as to understand their main steps and search mechanisms. We then test the unified GEM using 15 test benchmarks to validate its performance. Finally, further research topics are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/purpose: Simulated annealing is a powerful technique widely used in optimization problems. One critical aspect of using simulated annealing effectively is a proper and optimal adjustment of its parameters. This paper presents a novel approach to efficiently adjust the parameters of simulated annealing to enhance its performance and convergence speed. Methods: Since the simulated algorithm is inspired by the cooling Metropolis process, the basic idea is to simulate and analyze this process using a mathematical model. The proposed work tends to properly imitate the Metropolis cooling process in the algorithmic field. By intelligently adjusting the temperature schedule, temperature reduction and cooling rate, the algorithm optimizes the balance between exploration and exploitation, leading to improved convergence and higher-quality solutions. Results: To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach, it was applied first on a chosen sample function to be minimized, and then on some usual known optimization functions. The results demonstrate that our approach, called Optimal Adjusting of Simulated Annealing parameters (OASA), achieves superior performance compared to traditional static parameter settings and other existing approaches, showing how to well adjust the parameters of the simulated annealing algorithm to improve its efficiency in terms of solution quality and processing time. Conclusion: Adjusting the algorithm parameters could have a significant contribution in the optimization field even for other metaheuristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a massive development of metaheuristic algorithms in the latest decade where swarm intelligence becomes the fundamental approach. Meanwhile, there is still no ideal metaheuristic that can solve all problems superiorly, as declared in the no-free-lunch (NFL) theory. This work introduces a novel swarm-based metaheuristic named as migration-crossover algorithm (MCA). In MCA, the swarm intelligence is enriched with the crossover technique and the neighbourhood search with unbalanced local search space. The global finest solution becomes the reference in the first step while the middle between two stochastically chosen solutions becomes the reference in the second step. The neighbourhood search is performed in the third step. The collection of 23 functions become the use case during the evaluation of MCA. In the first evaluation, MCA is compared with five new metaheuristics: total interaction algorithm (TIA), osprey optimization algorithm (OOA), migration algorithm (MA), coati optimization algorithm (COA), and walrus optimization algorithm (WaOA). The result reveals that MCA is finer than TIA, OOA, MA, COA, and WaOA in 20, 19, 17, 20, and 17 functions subsequently. The result of the second evaluation reveals that the global finest solution becomes the dominant contributor in the high dimension functions while the middle between two stochastically chosen solutions becomes the dominant contributor in the fixed dimension functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called Giant Armadillo Optimization (GAO) is introduced, which imitates the natural behavior of giant armadillo in the wild. The fundamental inspiration in the design of GAO is derived from the hunting strategy of giant armadillos in moving towards prey positions and digging termite mounds. The theory of GAO is expressed and mathematically modeled in two phases: (i) exploration based on simulating the movement of giant armadillos towards termite mounds, and (ii) exploitation based on simulating giant armadillos' digging skills in order to prey on and rip open termite mounds. The performance of GAO in handling optimization tasks is evaluated in order to solve the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that GAO is able to achieve effective solutions for optimization problems by benefiting from its high abilities in exploration, exploitation, and balancing them during the search process. The quality of the results obtained from GAO is compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that GAO presents superior performance compared to competitor algorithms by providing better results for most of the benchmark functions. The statistical analysis of the Wilcoxon rank sum test confirms that GAO has a significant statistical superiority over competitor algorithms. The implementation of GAO on the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems show that the proposed approach has effective performance in dealing with real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wireless sensor networks represent a wide range of potential application, they are composed of a set of energy-constrained sensors used for detecting events and then sending information. In this paper, the novel metaheuristic Dhouib-Matrix-4 (DM4) is enhanced to optimize the coverage repair policies for wireless sensor networks using a mobile robot with different moving speeds. Hierarchically, two conflicted criteria are considered: at first the number of sensors to be visited in time is maximized, then at second, the trajectory distance of the mobile robot is minimized. Therefore, maximizing the lifetime of sensors and minimizing the path of the mobile robot is a challenging issue. DM4 is a multi-start method which uses at each start the novel greedy heuristic Dhouib-Matrix-TSP1 in order to generate an initial basic feasible solution which will be intensified by the new local search technique entitled Far-to- Near. DM4 is applied on several TSP-LIB standard instances from the literature where the moving speed (w) of a mobile actor varied from 0.4 to 1. The performance of DM4 is proven by comparing its results to those generated by the Evolutionary Algorithm (EA). DM4 is developed under Python programming language and a graphical representation of the generated solution is illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inventory routing problem arises from the combination of the vehicle routing problem and the vendor-managed inventory problem. In this paper, we present a mathematical model and a novel genetic algorithm for solving the multiperiod inventory routing problem. The objective is to supply products to scattered customers within a given time horizon while managing customer inventories to avoid shortages and minimize total inventory and transportation costs. To represent solutions for this problem, we introduce a new chromosomal structure. This structure offers simplicity in encoding and decoding solutions, maintains feasibility after crossover and mutation operations, addresses both routing and inventory management in a single step, and consolidates information about each solution method comprehensively. The algorithm parameters, including crossover and mutation rates, population size, number of iterations, and selection pressure, are fine-tuned using the Taguchi method. To assess algorithm efficiency, we utilize standard instances from the literature. Our results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs favorably compared to previous approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the optimization process, a large number of data are generated through the search. Machine learning techniques and algorithms can be used to handle the generated data to contribute to the optimization process. The use of machine learning enhancing metaheuristics applied to optimization problems has been drawing attention due to their capacity to add domain knowledge during the search process. This knowledge can accelerate metaheuristics and lead to better and promising solutions. This work provides a systematic literature review of machine learning enhancing metaheuristics and summarizes the current state of the classification of the research field, main techniques and machine learning models, validations strategies, and real-world optimization problems that the approach was applied. Our keyword search found 1.960 papers, published in the last 10 years. After considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria and performing backward snowballing procedure, we have analyzed 111 primary studies. The results show the predominance of the use of surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms (SAEAs) for improving the efficiency of the optimization, and the use of estimation of distribution algorithms (EDAs) to increase the effectiveness of the optimization. The objective function value is the mostly applied evaluating criteria to validate the algorithm with other methods. The developed techniques of the studies found are applied in diverse real-world applications such as developing machine learning models, physics simulations with expensive function evaluation, and the variants of the classical job shop scheduling problem. We also discuss trends and opportunities of the research field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO) is a population-based meta-heuristic algorithm that belongs to the family of swarm intelligence algorithms inspired by the social behavior of gray wolves, in particular the social hierarchy and hunting mechanism. Because of its simplicity, flexibility, and few parameters to be tuned, it has been applied to a wide range of optimization problems. And yet it has some disadvantages, such as poor exploration skills, stagnation at local optima, and slow convergence speed. Therefore, different variants of GWO have been proposed and developed to address these disadvantages. In this article, some literature, especially from the last five years, has been reviewed and summarized by well-known publishers. First, the inspiration and the mathematical model of GWO were explained. Subsequently, the improved GWO variants were divided into four categories and discussed. After that, each variant's methodology and experiments were explained and clarified. The study ends with a summary conclusion of the main foundation of GWO and suggests some possible future directions that can be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration algorithm (MA) and walrus optimization algorithm (WaOA) are two new swarm-based metaheuristics which are first introduced in 2023. As new metaheuristics, the modification of these two metaheuristics is still rare. Based on this circumstance, this work constructs a new metaheuristic called as migrating walrus algorithm (MWA) based on the hybridization of both MA and WaOA to create a better metaheuristic than them. MWA consists of five migrations: four directed migrations and one local migration. The references used in these directed migrations are the best walrus, a randomly picked better walrus, a randomly picked walrus, and two randomly picked walruses. In this work, two assessments are carried out: the comparative assessment and the individual migration assessment. The 23 functions are selected as theoretical use cases. In the comparative assessment, MWA is confronted with five new metaheuristics: MA, WaOA, attack leave optimization (ALO), coati optimization algorithm (COA), and osprey optimization algorithm (OOA). The result shows that MWA is better than ALO, COA, MA, OOA, and WaOA in 19, 19, 19, 17, and 17 functions. On the other hand, the individual migration assessment result indicates that the multiple migration approach is important to maintain the superiority of MWA with the directed migration toward the best walrus becoming the most important contributor. This result also strengthens the necessity of the multiple searches strategy rather than a single strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new metaheuristic algorithm called Migration Algorithm (MA), which is helpful in solving optimization problems. The fundamental inspiration of MA is the process of human migration, which aims to improve job, educational, economic, and living conditions, and so on. The mathematical modeling of the proposed MA is presented in two phases to empower the proposed approach in exploration and exploitation during the search process. In the exploration phase, the algorithm population is updated based on the simulation of choosing the migration destination among the available options. In the exploitation phase, the algorithm population is updated based on the efforts of individuals in the migration destination to adapt to the new environment and improve their conditions. MA’s performance is evaluated on fifty-two standard benchmark functions consisting of unimodal and multimodal types and the CEC 2017 test suite. In addition, MA’s results are compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The optimization results show the proposed MA approach’s high ability to balance exploration and exploitation to achieve suitable solutions for optimization problems. The analysis and comparison of the simulation results show that MA has provided superior performance against competitor algorithms in most benchmark functions. Also, the implementation of MA on four engineering design problems indicates the effective capability of the proposed approach in handling optimization tasks in real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called the Lyrebird Optimization Algorithm (LOA) that imitates the natural behavior of lyrebirds in the wild is introduced. The fundamental inspiration of LOA is the strategy of lyrebirds when faced with danger. In this situation, lyrebirds scan their surroundings carefully, then either run away or hide somewhere, immobile. LOA theory is described and then mathematically modeled in two phases: (i) exploration based on simulation of the lyrebird escape strategy and (ii) exploitation based on simulation of the hiding strategy. The performance of LOA was evaluated in optimization of the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that the proposed LOA approach has high ability in terms of exploration, exploitation, and balancing them during the search process in the problem-solving space. In order to evaluate the capability of LOA in dealing with optimization tasks, the results obtained from the proposed approach were compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that LOA has superior performance compared to competitor algorithms by providing better results in the optimization of most of the benchmark functions, achieving the rank of first best optimizer. A statistical analysis of the performance of the metaheuristic algorithms shows that LOA has significant statistical superiority in comparison with the compared algorithms. In addition, the efficiency of LOA in handling real-world applications was investigated through dealing with twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems. The simulation results show that LOA has effective performance in handling optimization tasks in real-world applications while providing better results compared to competitor algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new human-based metaheuristic algorithm called Technical and Vocational Education and Training-Based Optimizer (TVETBO) is introduced to solve optimization problems. The fundamental inspiration for TVETBO is taken from the process of teaching work-related skills to applicants in technical and vocational education and training schools. The theory of TVETBO is expressed and mathematically modeled in three phases: (i) theory education, (ii) practical education, and (iii) individual skills development. The performance of TVETBO when solving optimization problems is evaluated on the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that TVETBO, with its high abilities to explore, exploit, and create a balance between exploration and exploitation during the search process, is able to provide effective solutions for the benchmark functions. The results obtained from TVETBO are compared with the performances of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. A comparison of the simulation results and statistical analysis shows that the proposed TVETBO approach provides better results in most of the benchmark functions and provides a superior performance in competition with competitor algorithms. Furthermore, in order to measure the effectiveness of the proposed approach in dealing with real-world applications, TVETBO is implemented on twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite. The simulation results show that TVETBO provides an effective and superior performance when solving constrained optimization problems of real-world applications compared to competitor algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm named the Kookaburra Optimization Algorithm (KOA) is introduced, which imitates the natural behavior of kookaburras in nature. The fundamental inspiration of KOA is the strategy of kookaburras when hunting and killing prey. The KOA theory is stated, and its mathematical modeling is presented in the following two phases: (i) exploration based on the simulation of prey hunting and (ii) exploitation based on the simulation of kookaburras' behavior in ensuring that their prey is killed. The performance of KOA has been evaluated on 29 standard benchmark functions from the CEC 2017 test suite for the different problem dimensions of 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that the proposed KOA approach, by establishing a balance between exploration and exploitation, has good efficiency in managing the effective search process and providing suitable solutions for optimization problems. The results obtained using KOA have been compared with the performance of 12 well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The analysis of the simulation results shows that KOA, by providing better results in most of the benchmark functions, has provided superior performance in competition with the compared algorithms. In addition, the implementation of KOA on 22 constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite, as well as 4 engineering design problems, shows that the proposed approach has acceptable and superior performance compared to competitor algorithms in handling real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metaheuristic approaches with significant improvements are very promising in the solution of intractable optimization problems. The objective of the present study is to test the capability of applications and compare performance of the four selected algorithms from "classical" (simulated annealing (SA), genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and differential evolution (DE)) and "new generation" (firefly algorithm (FFA), krill herd (KH), grey wolf optimization (GWO), and symbiotic organism search (SOS)) each by solving selected benchmark problems. SOS and KH algorithm successfully solved most of all the selected problems by achieving the best solution in minimum execution time. On the other hand, DE, and PSO also effectively attained the optimal solution which were very close to the best one. Therefore, no firm conclusion can be done about the universally best algorithm and their performance may be varied for different benchmark problems. However, "new generation" algorithm exhibited the most promising result and great potential than the "classical" one. This study gives some insights to use SOS and KH as best performing algorithm to the novice user who can easily get lost by the plethora of large number of optimization algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The software testing phase usually consumes a lot of the development of software projects time in order to find defects before release. Different strategies have been approached to optimize this phase of the testing stage. Metaheuristics are important in software testing due to their ability to find optimal or near-optimal solutions in complex situations. This research aims to analyze the current status of the application of metaheuristics that assist in software testing phase activities, specifically the most representative Non-bio-inspired algorithms (NBA) are surveyed, being Hill Climbing the most reported. The main activities of the software testing where NBA were implemented, were test case and test data generation and test case prioritization. It was concluded that NBAs used on their own are only viable in some activities of the software testing phase. As future work, it is proposed to investigate the use of hybrid algorithms and approaches in software testing phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study designs a new stochastic optimization i.e., metaheuristic technique, namely run-catch optimizer (RCO). RCO provides a distinct mechanism regarding the diversification-intensification strategy. Each member runs two sequential activities in every iteration. The first activity is running and the second one is catching. Each activity generates a seed. In the first activity, a virtual best member moves away from the corresponding member to become the first seed. The second seed is generated along the way between the corresponding member and the first seed in the first activity. If both seeds fail to improve, the member conducts a random search to find a new member. Otherwise, the better seed replaces the corresponding member. Then, RCO is challenged to handle both theoretical and real-world optimization problems. The classic 23 functions represent theoretical problems, while the outsourcing optimization problem represents the practical problem. In these simulations, RCO is confronted with five other algorithms: grey wolf optimizer (GWO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), marine predator algorithm (MPA), Komodo mlipir algorithm (KMA), and pelican optimization algorithm (POA). The result shows that RCO is better than POA, KMA, MPA, GWO and PSO in optimizing 20, 21, 13, 12, and 21 functions consecutively. Meanwhile, RCO is better than PSO, GWO, and KMA, but worse than MPA and POA in optimizing the outsourcing problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper promotes a new swarm-based metaheuristic called four directed search algorithm or FDSA. FDSA is designed as a directed search-based metaheuristic without deploying any neighbourhood search. It contains four directed searches that are carried out sequentially. Each search has its reference. These four references are the best member; the resultant of three shuffled members within the swarm; a shuffled member within the swarm; and the resultant of the best member, a shuffled member within the swarm, and the corresponding member. FDSA implements a strict acceptance procedure so that new solution is accepted only if it provides improvement. The investigation is carried out to evaluate the performance of FDSA in solving the 23 functions. FDSA is also confronted with five new metaheuristics: northern goshawk optimization (NGO), average subtraction-based optimization (ASBO), coati optimization algorithm (COA), mixed leader-based optimization (MLBO), and attack leave optimization (ALO). This work also investigates the contribution or dominance of each search in the context of finding the optimal solution. The result shows that FDSA is superior to all these confronters by consecutively outperforming NGO, ASBO, COA, MLBO, and ALO in the 17, 13, 11, 18, and 11 functions. Its superiority is mainly in the high-dimension functions. Through investigation, there is no dominant search among the four directed searches in FDSA. Meanwhile, multiple search strategy is proven to improve performance significantly. On the other hand, the contribution of neighbourhood search is not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work offers a new stochastic optimization i.e., a metaheuristic algorithm combining both direction-based search and neighbourhood search called as walk-spread algorithm (WSA). These two types of searches become the inspiration for its name where the term walk represents the direction-based search while the term spread represents the neighbourhood search. There are two direction-based searches performed in every iteration where each search produces a single child. Meanwhile, there are two neighbourhood searches performed in every iteration where each search produces several children. The global best unit becomes the first reference while two shuffled units become the second reference in performing the direction-based search. Meanwhile, the local search space of the first neighbourhood search is wide while the second one is narrow. The 23 classic functions are chosen as the assessment of WSA where WSA is confronted with the five latest metaheuristics: mixed leader-based optimization (MLBO), golden search optimization (GSO), pelican optimization algorithm (POA), zebra optimization algorithm (ZOA), and attack-leave optimization (ALO). The assessment result shows that the offered WSA achieves the acceptable result so fast. Moreover, WSA is also superior to these five confronters by outperforming MLBO, GSO, POA, ZOA, and ALO in 23, 23, 22, 21, and 21 functions respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of skin cancer poses a number of challenges due to the differences in visual characteristics between melanoma, basal cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. These visual differences pose difficulties for models in discerning subtle features and patterns accurately. However, a remarkable breakthrough in image analysis using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has emerged, specifically in the identification of skin cancer from images. Unfortunately, manually designing such neural architectures is prone to errors and consumes substantial time. It has become increasingly popular to design and fine-tune neural networks by using metaheuristic algorithms that are based on natural phenomena. A nature-inspired algorithm is a powerful alternative to traditional algorithms for solving problems, particularly in complex optimization tasks. One such algorithm, the Harris hawk optimization (HHO), has demonstrated promise in automatically identifying the most appropriate solution across a wide range of possibilities, making it suitable for solving complex optimization problems. The purpose of this study is to introduce a novel automated architecture called "HHOForSkin" that combines the power of convolutional neural networks with meta-heuristic optimization techniques. The HHOForSkin framework uses an innovative custom CNN architecture with 26 layers for the analysis of medical images. In addition, a Harris hawk optimization algorithm (HHO) is used to fine-tune the developed model for multiple skin cancer classification problems. The developed model achieves an average accuracy of 99.1% and 98.93% F1 score using a publicly available skin cancer dataset. These results position the developed optimization-based skin cancer detection strategy at the forefront, offering the highest accuracy for seven-class classification problems compared to related works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]