Improve Performance the Discrete Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA) for symmetric travelling salesman problem (TSP)

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Supaporn Kamtaeja
Waranya Songseesai
Sasicha Sukkay
Nakorn Chaiwongsakda
Wilasinee Srisuwan
seksan winyangkul

Abstract

The study of optimizing solutions for the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) using the Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA) involves solving routing problems with a metaheuristic approach. The research focuses on improving the original FOA solution by adjusting parameters and increasing the dimensions to three-dimensional (3D) and higher-dimensional spaces (Hyper Dimensional). Additionally, it includes modifications such as Swap, Swop, and Insertion positions. Each modification considers 2-Opt (two-position), 3-Opt (three-position), and a combination of 2-3 Opt (two and three-position). The initial configuration is set using the Saving method. The analysis of the problem is divided into three parts. 1) Identifying the optimal variables for parameter setting. 2) Self-learning optimization using a single-objective approach for solving the TSP and 3) Analysis to  9 TSP datasets using a single-objective approach while comparing results with 10 other algorithms.


The research findings indicate that the three-dimensional incorporating a modified 2-3 opt switching scheme and utilizing the savings method for initial population configuration, represents the optimal algorithm. This enhancement was achieved by extending the parameter dimensions from the original two-dimensional (2D) space to a 3D space within the (X, Y, Z). The expansion into Hyper Dimensional improves the performance of the FOA by providing greater parametric flexibility. Based on tests 9 standard TSP datasets, 2 algorithms ranked first(1th). These are 1) FOA3twothree17S, which produced the best results in terms of solutions closest to the optimal solution for 4 datasets, namely Dantzig42, att48, st70, and Eil76, with deviation percentages of -2.780, 1.655, 3.659, and 4.617, respectively. and 2) FOA2twothree14S, which achieved the best result for 1 dataset, berlin52, with a deviation percentage of 3.437. in line with the research objectives. The increased number of parameters allows the algorithm to adjust positions more effectively to approach optimal solutions compared to the FOA original. Furthermore, the integration of 2-Opt, 3-Opt, and 2-3 Opt exchanges, combined with the Savings method for initializing the population, helps guide the search toward solutions near the optimal, while also reducing computational time required to obtain high-quality solutions.

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