Ant System

Ant colony optimization (ACO) is a metaheuristic algorithm inspired by the foraging behavior of ants, used to solve complex optimization problems like the traveling salesman problem and the capacitated arc routing problem. Current research focuses on improving ACO's efficiency and adaptability through variations like the Max-Min Ant System and Rank-Based Ant System, as well as integrating deep learning techniques to automate heuristic design and enhance performance. These advancements are leading to more robust and efficient solutions for various combinatorial optimization problems, impacting fields ranging from logistics and network routing to resource allocation.