Title: Parameter tuning of ant system using fuzzy logic controller

Authors: Komarudin; Kuan Yew Wong

Addresses: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai 81310, Malaysia. ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai 81310, Malaysia

Abstract: This paper examines the tuning of ant system's (AS's) parameters using fuzzy logic controller (FLC). Particularly, four basic parameters of the AS algorithm are tuned using FLC, i.e. number of ants, pheromone information parameter, heuristic information parameter and evaporation rate. The algorithm with FLC is tested using several unequal area facility layout problems which are modelled as flexible bay structures. The results are compared with the ones obtained from manual parameter tuning. The comparison shows that the AS algorithm can benefit from the use of FLC by omitting the need to specify its parameter values. It also shows that FLC can potentially lead to better results.

Keywords: FLC; fuzzy logic controllers; parameter tuning; ant system; UA-FLP; unequal area facility layout; facilities layout; fuzzy control; modelling; flexible bay structures; ant colony optimisation; ACO.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOR.2012.048863

International Journal of Operational Research, 2012 Vol.15 No.2, pp.125 - 135

Published online: 11 Jan 2015 *

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