Performance Assessment of ‎Three Swarm Intelligence Algorithms ‎in ‎Combinatorial ‎Problem

Performance Assessment of ‎Three Swarm Intelligence Algorithms ‎in ‎Combinatorial ‎Problem

Khamael Raqim Raheem* Hafedh Ali Shabat

Department of Computer Networks and Software, Technical Institute of Babylon, Al- Furat Al-Awsat Technical University (ATU), Kufa 51015, Iraq

Corresponding Author Email: 
khmrakrah@atu.edu.iq
Page: 
2161-2167
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.18280/isi.290606
Received: 
12 August 2024
|
Revised: 
30 October 2024
|
Accepted: 
4 December 2024
|
Available online: 
25 December 2024
| Citation

© 2024 The authors. This article is published by IIETA and is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

A fast-expanding area of study is the application of metaheuristics to combinatorial problems. The significance of combinatorial optimization problems for both the scientific and industrial domains is the reason behind this. Combinatorial problems are generally challenging ‎due ‎to ‎the ‎‎many ‎probable varieties that can comprise ‎a ‎reasonable ‎‎solution. ‏Finding an ‎optimal solution from a determinate set of ‎ viable options is called ‎combinatorial optimization. To ‎address combinatorial problems, effective ‎optimization ‎techniques are required. Meta-heuristic optimization employs ‎‎optimization algorithms to identify optimal solutions for ‎combinatorial ‎problems.‎ This ‎work employs three Meta-‎heuristic algorithms Ant, Artificial Bee ‎Colony, and ‎Bee Colony ‎Optimization for solving the ‎traveling ‎salesman problem, a famous ‎combinatorial ‎problem. A ‎comparative ‎analysis was carried out between these algorithms ‎after they were examined. ‎The findings of the experiments ‎indicate that the ant method has ‎outperformed other ‎algorithms on TSP in terms of finding the optimal ‎‎distance (shortest path), also demonstrates that it yielded ‎‎acceptable ‎performance in terms ‎of ‎computation ‎time‎.‎

Keywords: 

combinatorial optimization, meta-heuristic algorithm, Ant algorithm, Bee Colony Optimization, Artificial Bee Colony

1. Introduction

The traveling salesman problem (TSP) is extensively researched in operations research and artificial intelligence [1]. The ‎motivation behind the TSP ‎is the problem encountered by a salesperson ‎who ‎needs to ‎visit several customers located in various cities and try ‎for ‎‎finding the shortest round trip to achieve this mission. The ‎TSP ‎attempts to discover the shortest cyclic path through a ‎directed graph, ‎visiting each node precisely once [2].‎

Intelligent algorithms own outstanding performance and ‎elevated ‎effectiveness in several fields and the problem ‎nature does not constrain ‎them [3]. Among them, are the cuckoo ‎search algorithm [4], Ant ‎Colony Optimization (ACO) [5], Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) [6], and Artificial ‎Bee Colony ‎Algorithm (ABC) [7]. ‎These intelligent ‎algorithms it is utilized in different domains like image ‎processing [8], signals processing ‎‎[9, 10], text ‎mining [11, 12], ‎Water Resources Management [13], Control ‎Systems [14], ‎Transportation Planning [15], combinatorial problems [16], ‎‎Wireless Sensor Networks [17], VLSI Design [18], and ‎Chemical Process ‎Optimization [19].‎ Swarm Intelligence refers to the collective behavior of self-organized particles, ‎which is ‎commonly ‎observed in nature. Swarm ‎intelligence approaches ‎utilize ‎a ‎‎method based on a search ‎process that engages the ‎distribute ‎strategy ‎in ‎which each ‎agent enacts alone [20].‎

Feasible solutions mean providing all possible outcomes. An optimization problem involves determining the optimal option among all possible outcomes. Swarm intelligence is a probabilistic technique used to solve computational problems and achieve optimal results [21].‎‎ Combinatorial problems are difficult to formulate and solve in general, which makes them difficult to tackle. Because there are multiple solvers with various parametrizations, it can also be challenging to select the appropriate "solver algorithm" and determine its optimal configuration. Even for challenging optimization problems, metaheuristics are well known for being effective Combinatorial problem solutions. Because of the vastness of the search space that defines the combinatorial problem in question, they may be the only practical method in some circumstances. The goal of this work is to study the ‎efficacy ‎of ‎optimization algorithms for solving ‎combinatorial ‎problems and analyze ‎the behavior of three ‎famous ‎optimization methods by employing them to ‎solve ‎the TSP.

The remaining content of this paper is systematized as follows: the second section covers the fundamentals of the standard Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm, Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) algorithm, and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm. In ‎the third ‎section, describe ‎the ‎TSP problem. Then, in the fourth ‎section, ‎will data ‎description, and the ‎empirical results and ‎analysis. Lastly, ‎the fifth section produces the ‎conclusion.

2. Surrounding Theory

Nature-inspired algorithms have appeared to be viable for resolving ‎exceedingly challenging ‎optimization problems in science and engineering. ‎In recent decades, numerous nature-inspired algorithms ‎have been ‎produced. Nature's chemical, physical, and biological processes are ‎commonly employed to ‎develop nature-inspired algorithms. Furthermore, ‎several algorithms were developed based on sports, ‎sociology, or history ‎‎[22].‎ In computer science, numerous algorithms are inspired by natural collective behavior systems. This work will utilize swarm intelligence algorithms, including ACO, ABC, and BCO.

2.1 Principle of ACO algorithm

The ACO approach, which Dorigo and Di Caro [23] first presented ‎in the 1990s, is ‎ established on the foraging habits of ant colonies‎. Ants prioritize communal ‎survival over individual ‎species, making them eusocial insects. The ‎communication ‎among them is via touch, sound, and pheromones. The ‎‎Pheromones are defined as organic chemical molecules ‎released by ants ‎used for a ‎social reaction among ‎individuals of identical species. Ants ‎create pheromone trails ‎on the soil surface, which can be detected by ‎other ‎ants ‎‎[24]. They live in community nests, and the essential ‎hypothesis of ‎the ‎Ant Colony is to follow the movement ‎of ‎ants from their perches to look for ‎foods in the shortest possible way.‎ ‎starting, ants travel aimlessly to search for food ‎near their ‎nests randomly. The ‎random search creates numerous ‎pathways ‎from the nest to the food sources‎. Now, ‎based on the quantity and ‎quality of the food, the ants ‎‎carry an amount of ‎the food back with the ‎required ‎pheromone ‎concentration on its return track. ‎Based on the ‎‎pheromone trials, the ‎probability of choosing a ‎certain path ‎for the other ‎ants would be a ‎guide aspect of the food ‎‎source.‎‏ ‏It appears that both the ‎concentration and the rate ‎of pheromone evaporation determine this ‎probability. ‎Additionally, it can be noticed that the length of each trail ‎can ‎be ‎readily accounted for because the rate of ‎evaporation of ‎pheromone also plays a ‎powerful role [25]. Figure 1 illustrates ‎the behaviors of ants.

Figure 1. Ants choose the shortest path. An ant locates the food sources ‎‎(F) and then returns to the nest (N) depending on the pheromone ‎‎spread along its path [24]

The stages of behavior of ants can be described as follows:‎

Initially, every ant is in the nest. There are no pheromones spread in the environment.‎

Second stage: ‎Ants will start their search process with an equal probability ‎of each path.‎

Third stage: Some ants reach sources of food earlier by having a shorter ‎path. Currently, a similar selection dilemma is encountered by the ants, ‎therefore, they will employ the pheromone trail along the shorter route that ‎is already attending, and the likelihood of preferring a certain path is more ‎heightened.‎

Fourth stage: Most ants return through the shorter track where the ‎concentration of pheromone ‎will enrich. At the same time, ‎the ‎concentration of pheromone along the longer track ‎diminishes due to ‎evaporation, hence the probability of ‎choosing this path will reduce ‎further. ‎ Accordingly, the entire colony will utilize the shorter ‎route which has higher ‎probabilities. So, the optimization of the path ‎ is achieved.‎

The steps represent the pseudo code of Ant algorithm [25]:‎

Procedure Ant algorithm:‎

‎   Set up the required parameters and pheromone trials

‎  while not termination do:‎

‎     Generate ant population‎

     ‏Compute the fitness values relating to every ant

‎     Locate the best solution by choosing techniques‎

‎     Update pheromone trial‎

‏  ‏‎ end while

End procedure

2.2 Principle of ABC algorithm

ABC is a Metaheuristic technique that involves artificial bees ‎collaborating to identify optimal solutions for numerical optimization. This ‎algorithm requires significant resources and a larger computation time [26]. ‎According to Karaboga's 2005 presentation [27], ABC is a type of swarm ‎intelligence that mimics honey bees' food-finding strategies. Honeybees use ‎waggle dances and other techniques to seek out food sources.‎

The algorithm includes three different bee groups, which are ‎employed bees, onlooker bees, and scout bees, just as they do in nature. ‎Employed bees explore randomly and return to the hive with information ‎about the surroundings. This exploratory search information is shared with ‎onlooker bees. The onlooker bees use a probabilistic method to begin a ‎neighborhood search. Meanwhile, the scout bees do a random search ‎before carrying out the exploitation [28]. Bees navigate a multidimensional ‎search space, selecting food sources based on their expertise and partners ‎before determining their location. ‎Randomly, Bees select a source of food ‎without previous experience or knowledge. If a new source provides more ‎nectar than the previous source, the bee will remember the new location ‎and replace the old one. This algorithm combines local search approaches ‎from employed and onlooker bees with a global search process executed by ‎Scouts and onlookers [29]. Inside a hive, onlookers and employed bees will ‎be split equally. Where the number of employed bees is equivalent to the ‎available food sources. Each food source has a single employed bee. The ‎quality of food sources in a given place correlates with fitness value [30]. ‎The strategy ‎used via bees to locate food source is applied to ‎determine the optimal ‎solution [31]. The initial stage involves randomly assigning food source locations. Eq. (1) indicates this ‎stage [16].‎

$F\left(x_i\right), x_i \in R^D, i \in\left\{1,2, \ldots, S_N\right\}$            (1)

where, xi is a D-‎dimensional vector which represents the position of food sources, (F(xi)) symbolizes the objective function, (F(xi)) symbolizes the objective function, which defines the optimal solution‎, and the number ‎of the food source (SN) is given. After that, the population undergoes three ‎key steps: first, update ‎possible solutions; second, pick feasible solutions; in the third step, ‎avoid ‎suboptimal solutions.‎ Every employed bee determines a new candidate ‎food source place for updating potential solutions. The neighbors of the ‎food source that was previously chosen are the basis for the decision. To ‎determine the location of the new food source, utilize Eq. (2).‎

$v_{i j}=x_{i j}+\emptyset_{i j}\left(x_{i j}-x_{k j}\right)$             (2)

where vij$~$refers to a new feasible solution which updated. xij ‎represents the previous solution, xkj$~$refers to the neighboring solution, and ‎Øij is a random number between -1 and 1. K$\in${1,2,…,SN} and j$\in${l,2,…‎,D}. The notation (xij-xkj) indicates a difference in location along a given ‎dimension. Depending on the fitness value, if the new position is higher ‎than that of the previous one, the location of the old food source, which ‎was stored in the employed bee's memory, will be replaced by the new ‎location. When returning to the hive, employed bees will then share with ‎the onlooker bee the fitness value of new food sources. Each onlooker bee ‎chooses one of the suggested food sources based on the fitness value ‎acquired from the ‎employed bee. The likelihood of selecting a food source ‎is shown by Eq. (3).‎

$P_i=\frac{\text { fit }_i}{\sum_{n=1}^{S N} f_{i t}}$             (3)

where, Pi represents the probability of an onlooker bee selecting of source of food ‎‎[32]. fiti$~$describes the fitness value of the food source(i). ‎ Afterward, the ‎Onlooker type ‎visits the determined source of food and select a new ‎candidate position in the ‎surrounding area. In the third step in order to ‎avoid suboptimal ‎solutions, food sources ‎that do not improve the fitness ‎value will be departed and ‎modified into a new ‎position ‎appointed ‎randomly by the scout bees [26]. Eq. (4)‎‏ ‏used to ‎compute the new location of the Scout Bee [16].‎

$x_{i j}=x_j^{\min }+\operatorname{rand}[0,1] *\left(x_j^{\max }-x_j^{\min }\right)$              (4)

A lower bound of ‎the location of the food source is indicated by xmin, whereas an upper bound of ‎the location of the food source is indicated by ‎xmax, within ‎the dimension j [33].‎ The stop condition is represented by the ‎Max cycle number ‎‎(MCN) where utilized to restrict ‎the iterations count. ‎The ‎search procedure will be continued until the outcome of the objective ‎ function satisfies ‎a predetermined threshold or the iteration count reaches ‎the ‎MCN.‎ The threshold value is elected to be identical to either the ‎global ‎minimum or maximum value according to the natural optimization ‎problem being handled [34].‎

2.3 Principle of BCO algorithm

BCO is an algorithm that is based on population. It more closely resembles ‎natural bee behavior. This algorithm differs from others by utilizing scout ‎bees, emphasizing the importance of hive location, and adopting a more ‎natural recruitment strategy. BCO involves artificial bees cooperating to ‎tackle complex combinatorial optimization problems [35].‎

The search operation begins with all artificial bees present in the hive; ‎they ‎now communicate with each other throughout the ‎search operation. Every bee carries out a succession of local moves and ‎constructs a ‎solution for the problem gradually. Until one or more feasible ‎solutions are constructed, Bee continues to add solution components to the ‎current partial solution. The search process of the BCO approach runs ‎through multiple iterations. When bees construct one or more possible ‎solutions, the first iteration is considered to be over. After that, saving ‎the ‎best solution met at this iteration, and then the second iteration will begin. ‎Depending on this strategy, Bees develop solutions gradually during the ‎second iteration and so on and continue in the succession of iterations. ‎lastly, Each iteration yields a partial solution [36].‎

The search inside the BCO algorithm is based on a ‎cooperation ‎strategy between bees to locate the optimal ‎solution. Where the bees fly ‎within search space and each ‎one generates one solution during forward ‎pass or backward ‎pass. The bees by the forward pass explore the ‎search ‎space and create a diverse partial solution where it ‎uses several moves ‎determined previously for creating ‎or ‎enhancing the solution, ‎constructing a ‎new partial solution.‎ ‎The bees perform this through a combination ‎of ‎personal ‎exploration ‎and collaborative previous ‎knowledge.

‎Bees will return to the hive meanwhile the backward stage and exchange ‎information about the solutions ‎ inside the hive ‎among entire bees. This ‎means‎ each bee will participate in making the decision. An objective ‎function will compute, and the possible solutions evaluated. Depending ‎on particular probability the bee will ‎decide ‎to ‎reject the partial ‎solution ‎or ‎not‎, and evolve into an ‎uncommitted ‎follower, ‎persist ‎in expanding ‎the ‎recently ‎formed partial ‎solution ‎without ‎conscripting ‎the ‎nests, or ‎dance for ‎recruiting the ‎nest ‎before ‎backing to the ‎recently ‎created ‎partial ‎solution. According to solutions ‎quality, each bee ‎reveals a specific degree ‎of ‎adherence to the pathway that ‎guides to ‎the ‎formerly discovered partial solution‎. ‎The quality of the created partial solutions determines this degree of loyalty. The bees will utilize a second ‎forward pass to extend formerly created partial solutions, and after that, ‎again replicate the backward pass correspondingly before returning to the ‎hive. Inside the hive, bees will participate in decisions again. Then running ‎a third forward pass, and so on. Eventually, the iterations will stop when ‎one or more feasible ‎solutions are located [37].

The algorithm uses forward and backward pass stages alternating ‎to ‎generate all feasible solutions [38]. After all solutions are accomplished, ‎the algorithm ‎picks the best one and employs it for modifying the global ‎solution. The rest of ‎the solutions are ignored currently. Then, initiate a ‎new iteration. ‎This procedure will repeated till an ending condition is ‎met( ‎the time of CPU which is permitted, or the max count of ‎forward-‎backward passes, or any other condition). Ultimately, the global ‎solution (optimal solution) which is obtained is stated as the final solution.‎

Combinatorial optimization problems are addressed by the BCO ‎technique in steps, with one optimization variable standing employed per ‎step [39]. Assume to describe the number of pre-steps as follows ST=(st1 , st2 ,..., stm), where m signifies the number of steps, also, suppose ‎B represents the bee's count functioned in the search process, I refers to the ‎total number of iterations, and Sj (j=1,2,...,m) denotes a gathering of ‎partial solutions for stage stj. Figure 2 shows the passes of the BCO algorithm [35]‎.

Figure 2. Forward passes and backward passes [35]

The following steps describes the passes ‎of BCO algorithm [35].

Step one: start with the numbers of bee (B) and the number of iterations I, choose the set of stage ST=(st1,st2,….,stm), which signifies the productive movements number through the one forward pass.

Then, determine any feasible solution x of the problem (this    solution denotes the preliminary solution)

Step two: initiating i:=1,  Implement the successive steps

               until i=I.

Step three: initiating j:=1, Repeat the subsequent steps until j=m, (m is the  number of stages)

Forward pass: Permit bees depart the hive and generate partial solutions (B) from Sj at stage stj.

Backward pass: All bees go back to the hive. After that

                  Intercommunicate with one another about the  

                  partial solution quality then becomes an

                  uncommitted follower.                      

                 Extend the same partial solution without attracting

                 nestmates, or dance to recruit nestmates, before

                 returning to the generated partial solution.

Step four: if a new best solution xi is better than the  current best  solution x, should be update the current best solution  (x:=xi)

Step five: Increases the I, i=i+1.

3. Data Setup

The traveling salesman issue involves determining the ‎most ‎efficient ‎path ‎that visits each city in a list of cities precisely once, ‎while ‎also ‎returning to ‎the starting city. This is done by considering ‎the ‎distances ‎between each ‎pair of cities.  In this study, we suppose have n ‎‎= ‎‎25 cities generated randomly, each city represented by one ‎point ‎has ‎coordinates in an Euclidean space, as shown in Figures 3-4 ‎which ‎represent the distribution of cities in 2D and 3D space, respectively. ‎In actuality, the permutations of the routing order of n cities in ‎the ‎TSP problem are computed as  (n−1)!/2, which leads to ‎impossible ‎computing the permutations in a suitable of time. particularly, if ‎the value ‎of n is great.  Consequently, we utilized three ‎optimization ‎techniques to ‎get the optimal solution, which is the shortest ‎path with the ‎least amount of ‎time. The purpose of using the TSP problem ‎in this study ‎is solely to ‎demonstrate the characteristics of the executed ‎optimization ‎algorithms by comparing their performance.

Figure 3. Distribution of data in 3-dimensional space

Figure 4. Distribution of 2-dimensional data

‎In actuality, the permutations of the routing order of n cities in ‎the ‎TSP problem are computed as (n−1)!/2, which leads to ‎impossible ‎computing the permutations in a suitable of time. particularly, if ‎the value ‎of n is great. Consequently, we utilized three ‎optimization ‎techniques to ‎get the optimal solution, which is the shortest ‎path with the ‎least amount of ‎time. The purpose of using the TSP problem ‎in this study ‎is solely to ‎demonstrate the characteristics of the executed ‎optimization ‎algorithms by comparing their performance.

4. Experimental and Results

In this work, three experiments were conducted to show the ‎effectiveness of ACO, BCO, and ABC algorithms by comparing the ‎performance of the capability to solve the TSP. These methods were ‎executed employing a Python program by JetBrains ‎PyCharm Edition ‎‎2023.3 and running by a machine that has ‎a CPU (Core i5) with 2.5 GHz, ‎and memory of 12 GB.‎ The data was initially generated randomly and ‎included numerous points, each of which symbolized a city. A total of 25 ‎cities were determined. The data allocation is illustrated in Figures ‎above.‎

4.1 First experiment

A group of k ants is constructed to make an "ant colony," and ‎a ‎randomly chosen city as the beginning point (The initial town is ‎chosen ‎without any specific reason as a whole journey might commence ‎from any ‎city). The ACO Algorithm has parameters that should be fitted, ‎to achieve ‎adequate performance. where α defines the weights ascribed to ‎pheromone ‎concentration, β refers to ant visibility, ρ implies the ‎evaporation rate of the ‎pheromone, which is utilized to modify the ‎pheromone, and Q denotes a ‎pheromone amplification constant.‎ In this experiment, parameters were setup as follows: number of ‎ants ‎‎(k=10), number of iterations =120, α=1, β =1, ρ=0.5, and Q=1. ‎The ‎algorithm located the shortest route via travel of the following cities ‎‎[15, 19, 22, 6, ‎‎2, 3, 1, 9, 11, 12, 21, 23, 25, 8, 4, 17, 20, 16, 7, 5, 14, 18, ‎‎10, 13, 24] ‎with the distance= 691.6827218570513 and Elapsed time is ‎‎18.797309 ‎seconds. Figure 5 displays a diagram of the path that is ‎discovered by the ACO algorithm.‎

Figure 5. An illustration of the best route utilizing ACO algorithm

4.2 Second experiment

The experiment aims to evaluate how well BCO solved the TSP issue. The algorithm requires control parameters to act and perform ‎appropriately. The first parameter value is the maximum number of ‎cycles (MCN), which is taken in this experiment to be 1500. The ‎second ‎value is the maximum size of the population which set is at 120. ‎The count of runs of parameters was appointed to 80, where there is MCN ‎for each run. Also, there is another parameter that is Dimension which ‎depends on the count of cities. In this experiment, the bees were split as ‎follows: the employed bees with 50 percent, onlooker ‎bees with 50 percent, and ‎‎20 percent scout bees. ‎The ABC located the following route by  ‎travels ‎through the cities [3, 5, 2, 18, 14, 9, 12, 23, 13, 4, 6, 15, 16, 24, 22, ‎‎8, ‎‎19, 1, 21, 17, 0, 10, 11, 20, 7]‎‏ ‏with distance =‎‏ ‏‎1115.597‎‏ ‏and ‎elapsed ‎time =‎1327.359542 seconds‎ as illustrated in Figure 6.‎

Figure 6. An illustration of the optimal route utilizing ABC algorithm

4.3 Third experiment

This experiment was executed to assess the effectiveness of ‎BCO ‎in ‎solving the TSP matter. The settings of parameters are specified as follows: the count of bees is set to 300, a number of stages is set to 3, and the ‎percentage of ‎bee ‎probability to be scout type is 10%, after conducting an ‎experiment the ‎BCO found that the path is through travel the ‎cities ‎[18, 14, ‎‎5, 17, 20, ‎‎16, 1, 3, 7, 9, 12, 21, 11, 23, 25, 2, 10, 13, 24, 15, 19, ‎‎22, 6, ‎‎8, ‎‎4]‎ with distance =‎991.9184714895329‎  and Elapsed ‎time= ‎31.026371 ‎seconds‎ as displayed in Figure 7.‎

Figure 7. An illustration of the optimal route utilizing the ‎BCO ‎algorithm

In the ACO algorithm, ants start by choosing cities ‎and walk ‎randomly through them. Each Ant constructs a solution depending ‎on ‎restriction where each town has to be visited precisely once. According ‎to experiments ACO has given the best result where produced the shortest ‎path with less computational time. Due to the truth, the next city is chosen ‎based on the pheromones associated with each edge between two points, ‎and a few other parameters. therefore, it ‎permits dynamic rerouting via the ‎shortest track if one node is ‎broken. ‎While the other algorithms instead ‎suppose that there are the network is static. ‎Therefore, ‎It gives positive ‎feedback which leads to the discovery of good ‎solutions within a ‎reasonable computing time‎. where yielded the shortest ‎path with slight time ‎compared with the ABC and BCO algorithms.‎‏ ‏The ABC uses a greedy ‎selection process that combines a local and a ‎global search strategy to ‎obtain the optimal solution. Hence, it needs a lot ‎of resources and large ‎computation time. In contrast, the BCO ‎technique is based ‎on ‎collaboration, where Bees can be more effective ‎when ‎working ‎concurrently. BCO yielded good results and it ‎needed ‎reasonable computing time to identify the optimal solution ‎compared with ‎ABC. lastly, must be mentioned, that due to supplementary limitations like time, cost, ‎and ‎client preference, real-world applications call ‎for transformations to satisfy ‎their achieving. ‎

5. Conclusions

Combinatorial problems are challenging ‎due ‎to ‎the ‎‎many ‎probable varieties that ‎can comprise ‎a ‎reasonable ‎‎solution. ‎The best strategy to tackle a combinatorial problem is considering all possible solutions in the search area. Yet, checking all of the viable solutions is not always practicable, particularly when the search area is extensive. Many meta-heuristic methods have been developed and adapted to address these problems. Meta-heuristic techniques aren't guaranteed to locate the optimal solution, but they do strive to explore diverse sections of the search area in a clever way to obtain a near-optimal solution at a lower cost time. In this work, the Metaheuristic algorithms ACO, ABC, and BCO enlightened ‎from natural systems were employed for solving the TSP combinatorial ‎optimization problem. It has been demonstrated that all employed methods ‎perform effectively on the TSP problem. ACO is regarded as moderately ‎easy-to-implementation due to well-defined updating rules of pheromone, ‎and easy application. Where ACO needed to adjust a few parameters such ‎as pheromone concentration‎ and evaporation rate, and exploration-‎exploitation balance. Therefore, produced a good result with less ‎computational time. whereas, ABC and BCO require more complicated ‎strategies to mimic the behavior of bees accurately. Both, require more ‎parameters related to the search behavior of bees and ‎communication ‎among them.‎ Where ABC ‎ algorithm uses the greedy ‎selection technique ‎for acquiring ‎the optimal solution, ‎accordingly, this ‎algorithm ‎ ‎requests excessive ‎processing ‎resources and also excessive ‎computational ‎time‎. ‎In contrast, BCO approach is ‎based ‎on ‎collaboration where ‎artificial ‎bees ‎can be more effective ‎when ‎they ‎operate ‎together. ‎Consequently, they could ‎give ‎a reasonable solution in ‎an ‎appropriate ‎computing time ‎compared with the ‎ABC ‎algorithm.‎ Finally, ‎the ‎experiments revealed that metaheuristic ‎algorithms are ‎appropriate ‎to ‎ tackle combinatorial problems such as the ‎TSP problem, ‎and can ‎be ‎applied to solve other problems in future works.‎

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