BHJO: A Novel Hybrid Metaheuristic Algorithm Combining the Beluga Whale, Honey Badger, and Jellyfish Search Optimizers for Solving Engineering Design Problems.

Hybridizing metaheuristic algorithms involves synergistically combining different optimization techniques to effectively address complex and challenging optimization problems. This approach aims to leverage the strengths of multiple algorithms, enhancing solution quality, convergence speed, and robustness, thereby offering a more versatile and efficient means of solving intricate real-world optimization tasks. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid algorithm that amalgamates three distinct metaheuristics: the Beluga Whale Optimization (BWO), the Honey Badger Algorithm (HBA), and the Jellyfish Search (JS) optimizer. The proposed hybrid algorithm will be referred to as BHJO. Through this fusion, the BHJO algorithm aims to leverage the strengths of each optimizer. Before this hybridization, we thoroughly examined the exploration and exploitation capabilities of the BWO, HBA, and JS metaheuristics, as well as their ability to strike a balance between exploration and exploitation. This meticulous analysis allowed us to identify the pros and cons of each algorithm, enabling us to combine them in a novel hybrid approach that capitalizes on their respective strengths for enhanced optimization performance. In addition, the BHJO algorithm incorporates Opposition-Based Learning (OBL) to harness the advantages offered by this technique, leveraging its diverse exploration, accelerated convergence, and improved solution quality to enhance the overall performance and effectiveness of the hybrid algorithm. Moreover, the performance of the BHJO algorithm was evaluated across a range of both unconstrained and constrained optimization problems, providing a comprehensive assessment of its efficacy and applicability in diverse problem domains. Similarly, the BHJO algorithm was subjected to a comparative analysis with several renowned algorithms, where mean and standard deviation values were utilized as evaluation metrics. This rigorous comparison aimed to assess the performance of the BHJO algorithm about its counterparts, shedding light on its effectiveness and reliability in solving optimization problems. Finally, the obtained numerical statistics underwent rigorous analysis using the Friedman post hoc Dunn's test. The resulting numerical values revealed the BHJO algorithm's competitiveness in tackling intricate optimization problems, affirming its capability to deliver favorable outcomes in challenging scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]