Link:

https://doi.org/10.56578/ataiml030403

Publisher:

Acadlore

Abstract:

Swarm intelligence (SI) has emerged as a transformative approach in solving complex optimization problems by drawing inspiration from collective behaviors observed in nature, particularly among social animals and insects. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), a prominent subclass of SI algorithms, models the foraging behavior of ant colonies to address a range of challenging combinatorial problems. Originally introduced in 1992 for the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), ACO employs artificial pheromone trails and heuristic information to probabilistically guide solution construction. The artificial ants within ACO algorithms engage in a stochastic search process, iteratively refining solutions through the deposition and evaporation of pheromone levels based on previous search experiences. This review synthesizes the extensive body of research that has since advanced ACO from its initial ant system (AS) model to sophisticated algorithmic variants. These advances have both significantly enhanced ACO’s practical performance across various application domains and contributed to a deeper theoretical understanding of its mechanics. The focus of this study is placed on the behavioral foundations of ACO, as well as on the metaheuristic frameworks that enable its versatility and robustness in handling large-scale, computationally intensive tasks. Additionally, this study highlights current limitations and potential areas for future exploration within ACO, aiming to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic field of swarm-based optimization.