A new bio-inspired optimisation algorithm: Bird Swarm Algorithm

Abstract

A new bio-inspired algorithm, namely Bird Swarm Algorithm (BSA), is proposed for solving optimisation applications. BSA is based on the swarm intelligence extracted from the social behaviours and social interactions in bird swarms. Birds mainly have three kinds of behaviours: foraging behaviour, vigilance behaviour and flight behaviour. Birds may forage for food and escape from the predators by the social interactions to obtain a high chance of survival. By modelling these social behaviours, social interactions and the related swarm intelligence, four search strategies associated with five simplified rules are formulated in BSA. Simulations and comparisons based on eighteen benchmark problems demonstrate the effectiveness, superiority and stability of BSA. Some proposals for future research about BSA are also discussed.

Keywords::

• bird swarms
• swarm intelligence
• social behaviours
• social interactions
• Bird Swarm Algorithm
• optimisation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the New Academic Staff Program of Shanghai Maritime University under Grant GK2013089.The authors also gratefully acknowledge the useful suggestions of the reviewers and editors, which have processed and improved the presentation.