A Cyclical Non-Linear Inertia-Weighted Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization Algorithm

Abstract

After the teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm was proposed, many improved algorithms have been presented in recent years, which simulate the teaching–learning phenomenon of a classroom to effectively solve global optimization problems. In this paper, a cyclical non-linear inertia-weighted teaching–learning-based optimization (CNIWTLBO) algorithm is presented. This algorithm introduces a cyclical non-linear inertia weighted factor into the basic TLBO to control the memory rate of learners, and uses a non-linear mutation factor to control the learner’s mutation randomly during the learning process. In order to prove the significant performance of the proposed algorithm, it is tested on some classical benchmark functions and the comparison results are provided against the basic TLBO, some variants of TLBO and some other well-known optimization algorithms. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has better global search ability and higher search accuracy than the basic TLBO, some variants of TLBO and some other algorithms as well, and can escape from the local minimum easily, while keeping a faster convergence rate.