Hybridizing salp swarm algorithm with particle swarm optimization algorithm for recent optimization functions

The salp swarm algorithm (SSA) has shown its fast search speed in several challenging problems. Research shows that not every nature-inspired approach is suitable for all applications and functions. Additionally, it does not provide the best exploration and exploitation for each function during the search process. Therefore, there were several researches attempts to improve the exploration and exploitation of the meta-heuristics by developing the newly hybrid approaches. This inspired our current research and therefore, we developed a newly hybrid approach called hybrid salp swarm algorithm with particle swarm optimization for searching the superior quality of optimal solutions of the standard and engineering functions. The hybrid variant integrates the advantages of SSA and PSO to eliminate many disadvantages such as the trapping in local optima and the unbalanced exploitation. We have used the velocity phase of the PSO approach in salp swarm approach in order to avoid the premature convergence of the optimal solutions in the search space, escape from ignoring in local minima and improve the exploitation tendencies. The new approach has been verified on different dimensions of the given functions. Additionally, the proposed technique has been compared with a wide range of algorithms in order to confirm its efficiency in solving standard CEC 2005, CEC 2017 test suits and engineering problems. The simulation results show that the proposed hybrid approach provides competitive, often superior results as compared to other existing algorithms in the research community.

Automated summary

The salp swarm algorithm (SSA) is a meta-heuristic algorithm with fast search speed. However, not all nature-inspired methods are suitable for every application and function. Therefore, researchers have developed hybrid approaches to improve exploration and exploitation. In this study, a newly hybrid approach called hybrid salp swarm algorithm with particle swarm optimization (PSO) was developed for searching optimal solutions of standard and engineering functions. The hybrid variant integrates the advantages of SSA and PSO to overcome disadvantages such as local optima trapping and unbalanced exploitation. The proposed technique combines the velocity phase of PSO with the salp swarm approach to prevent premature convergence and improve exploitation tendencies. Simulation results show that the proposed hybrid approach provides competitive and often superior results compared to other algorithms.