Optimizing Bucket Elevator Performance through a Blend of Discrete Element Method, Response Surface Methodology, and Firefly Algorithm Approaches

This research introduces a novel approach to enhancing bucket elevator design and operation through the integration of discrete element method(DEM)simulation,design of experiments(DOE),and metaheuristic optimization algorithms.Specifically,the study employs the firefly algorithm(FA),a metaheuristic optimization technique,to optimize bucket elevator parameters for maximizing transport mass and mass flow rate discharge of granular materials under specified working conditions.The experimental methodology involves several key steps:screening experiments to identify significant factors affecting bucket elevator operation,central composite design(CCD)experiments to further explore these factors,and response surface methodology(RSM)to create predictive models for transport mass and mass flow rate discharge.The FA algorithm is then applied to optimize these models,and the results are validated through simulation and empirical experiments.The study validates the optimized parameters through simulation and empirical experiments,comparing results with DEM simulation.The outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the FA algorithm in identifying optimal bucket parameters,showcasing less than 10%and 15%deviation for transport mass and mass flow rate discharge,respectively,between predicted and actual values.Overall,this research provides insights into the critical factors influencing bucket elevator operation and offers a systematic methodology for optimizing bucket parameters,contributing to more efficient material handling in various industrial applications.

Defect image segmentation using multilevel thresholding based on firefly algorithm with opposition-learning

To segment defects from the quad flat non-lead QFN package surface a multilevel Otsu thresholding method based on the firefly algorithm with opposition-learning is proposed. First the Otsu thresholding algorithm is expanded to a multilevel Otsu thresholding algorithm. Secondly a firefly algorithm with opposition-learning OFA is proposed.In the OFA opposite fireflies are generated to increase the diversity of the fireflies and improve the global search ability. Thirdly the OFA is applied to searching multilevel thresholds for image segmentation. Finally the proposed method is implemented to segment the QFN images with defects and the results are compared with three methods i.e. the exhaustive search method the multilevel Otsu thresholding method based on particle swarm optimization and the multilevel Otsu thresholding method based on the firefly algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed method can segment QFN surface defects images more efficiently and at a greater speed than that of the other three methods.

Rayleigh wave nonlinear inversion based on the Firefly algorithm

Rayleigh waves have high amplitude, low frequency, and low velocity, which are treated as strong noise to be attenuated in reflected seismic surveys. This study addresses how to identify useful shear wave velocity profile and stratigraphic information from Rayleigh waves. We choose the Firefly algorithm for inversion of surface waves. The Firefly algorithm, a new type of particle swarm optimization, has the advantages of being robust, highly effective, and allows global searching. This algorithm is feasible and has advantages for use in Rayleigh wave inversion with both synthetic models and field data. The results show that the Firefly algorithm, which is a robust and practical method, can achieve nonlinear inversion of surface waves with high resolution.

Opposition-Based Firefly Algorithm for Earth Slope Stability Evaluation

This paper introduces a new approach of firefly algorithm based on opposition-based learning （OBFA） to enhance the global search ability of the original algorithm. The new algorithm employs opposition based learning concept to generate initial population and also updating agents’ positions. The proposed OBFA is applied for minimization of the factor of safety and search for critical failure surface in slope stability analysis. The numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the new algorithm.

Repulsive firefly algorithm-based optimal switching device placement in power distribution systems

To achieve optimal configuration of switching devices in a power distribution system,this paper proposes a repulsive firefly algorithm-based optimal switching device placement method.In this method,the influence of territorial repulsion during firefly courtship is considered.The algorithm is practically applied to optimize the position and quantity of switching devices,while avoiding its convergence to the local optimal solution.The experimental simulation results have showed that the proposed repulsive firefly algorithm is feasible and effective,with satisfying global search capability and convergence speed,holding potential applications in setting value calculation of relay protection and distribution network automation control.

2-D DOA Estimation in a Cuboid Array Based on Metaheuristic Algorithms and Maximum Likelihood

This paper proposes to apply the genetic algorithm and the firefly algorithm to enhance the estimation of the direction of arrival (DOA) angle of electromagnetic signals of a smart antenna array. This estimation is essential for beamforming, where the antenna array radiating pattern is steered to provide faster and reliable data transmission with increased coverage. This work proposes using metaheuristics to improve a maximum likelihood DOA estimator for an antenna array arranged in a uniform cuboidal geometry. The DOA estimation performance of the proposed algorithm was compared to that of MUSIC on different two dimensions scenarios. The metaheuristic algorithms present better performance than the well-known MUSIC algorithm.

Application of Metaheuristic Algorithms for Optimizing Longitudinal Square Porous Fins

The objectives of this study involve the optimization of longitudinal porous fins of square cross-section using metaheuristic algorithms.A generalized nonlinear ordinary differential equation is derived using Darcy and Fourier’s laws in the energy balance around a control volume and is solved numerically using RFK 45 method.The temperature of the base surface is higher than the fin surface,and the fin tip is kept adiabatic or cooled by convection heat transfer.The other pertinent parameters include Rayleigh number(100≤Ra≤10^(4)),Darcy number,(10^(−4)≤Da≤10^(−2)),relative thermal conductivity ratio of solid phase to fluid(1000≤kr≤8000),Nusselt number(10≤Nu≤100),porosity(0.1≤φ≤0.9).The impacts of these parameters on the entropy generation rate are investigated and optimized using metaheuristic algorithms.In computer science,metaheuristic algorithms are one of the most widely used techniques for optimization problems.In this research,three metaheuristic algorithms,including the firefly algorithm(FFA),particle swarm algorithm(PSO),and hybrid algorithm(FFAPSO)are employed to examine the performance of square fins.It is demonstrated that FFA-PSO takes fewer iterations and less computational time to converge compared to other algorithms.

Second Law Analysis and Optimization of Elliptical Pin Fin Heat Sinks Using Firefly Algorithm

One of the most significant considerations in the design of a heat sink is thermal management due to increasing thermal flux and miniature in size.These heat sinks utilize plate or pin fins depending upon the required heat dissipation rate.They are designed to optimize overall performance.Elliptical pin fin heat sinks enhance heat transfer rates and reduce the pumping power.In this study,the Firefly Algorithm is implemented to optimize heat sinks with elliptical pin-fins.The pin-fins are arranged in an inline fashion.The nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm performs powerfully and efficiently in solving numerical global optimization problems.Based on mass,energy,and entropy balance,three models are developed for thermal resistance,hydraulic resistance,and entropy generation rate in the heat sink.The major axis is used as the characteristic length,and the maximum velocity is used as the reference velocity.The entropy generation rate comprises the combined effect of thermal resistance and pressure drop.The total EGR is minimized by utilizing the firefly algorithm.The optimization model utilizes analytical/empirical correlations for the heat transfer coefficients and friction factors.It is shown that both thermal resistance and pressure drop can be simultaneously optimized using this algorithm.It is demonstrated that the performance of FFA is much better than PPA.

Shape and Size Optimization of Truss Structures under Frequency Constraints Based on Hybrid Sine Cosine Firefly Algorithm

Shape and size optimization with frequency constraints is a highly nonlinear problem withmixed design variables,non-convex search space,and multiple local optima.Therefore,a hybrid sine cosine firefly algorithm(HSCFA)is proposed to acquire more accurate solutions with less finite element analysis.The full attraction model of firefly algorithm(FA)is analyzed,and the factors that affect its computational efficiency and accuracy are revealed.A modified FA with simplified attraction model and adaptive parameter of sine cosine algorithm(SCA)is proposed to reduce the computational complexity and enhance the convergence rate.Then,the population is classified,and different populations are updated by modified FA and SCA respectively.Besides,the random search strategy based on Lévy flight is adopted to update the stagnant or infeasible solutions to enhance the population diversity.Elitist selection technique is applied to save the promising solutions and further improve the convergence rate.Moreover,the adaptive penalty function is employed to deal with the constraints.Finally,the performance of HSCFA is demonstrated through the numerical examples with nonstructural masses and frequency constraints.The results show that HSCFA is an efficient and competitive tool for shape and size optimization problems with frequency constraints.

A Novel Binary Firefly Algorithm for the Minimum Labeling Spanning Tree Problem

Given a connected undirected graph G whose edges are labeled,the minimumlabeling spanning tree(MLST)problemis to find a spanning tree of G with the smallest number of different labels.TheMLST is anNP-hard combinatorial optimization problem,which is widely applied in communication networks,multimodal transportation networks,and data compression.Some approximation algorithms and heuristics algorithms have been proposed for the problem.Firefly algorithm is a new meta-heuristic algorithm.Because of its simplicity and easy implementation,it has been successfully applied in various fields.However,the basic firefly algorithm is not suitable for discrete problems.To this end,a novel discrete firefly algorithm for the MLST problem is proposed in this paper.A binary operation method to update firefly positions and a local feasible handling method are introduced,which correct unfeasible solutions,eliminate redundant labels,and make the algorithm more suitable for discrete problems.Computational results show that the algorithm has good performance.The algorithm can be extended to solve other discrete optimization problems.

Adaptive Kernel Firefly Algorithm Based Feature Selection and Q-Learner Machine Learning Models in Cloud

CC’s(Cloud Computing)networks are distributed and dynamic as signals appear/disappear or lose significance.MLTs(Machine learning Techniques)train datasets which sometime are inadequate in terms of sample for inferring information.A dynamic strategy,DevMLOps(Development Machine Learning Operations)used in automatic selections and tunings of MLTs result in significant performance differences.But,the scheme has many disadvantages including continuity in training,more samples and training time in feature selections and increased classification execution times.RFEs(Recursive Feature Eliminations)are computationally very expensive in its operations as it traverses through each feature without considering correlations between them.This problem can be overcome by the use of Wrappers as they select better features by accounting for test and train datasets.The aim of this paper is to use DevQLMLOps for automated tuning and selections based on orchestrations and messaging between containers.The proposed AKFA(Adaptive Kernel Firefly Algorithm)is for selecting features for CNM(Cloud Network Monitoring)operations.AKFA methodology is demonstrated using CNSD(Cloud Network Security Dataset)with satisfactory results in the performance metrics like precision,recall,F-measure and accuracy used.

Optimization of Cognitive Radio System Using Enhanced Firefly Algorithm

The optimization of cognitive radio(CR)system using an enhanced firefly algorithm(EFA)is presented in this work.The Firefly algorithm(FA)is a nature-inspired algorithm based on the unique light-flashing behavior of fireflies.It has already proved its competence in various optimization prob-lems,but it suffers from slow convergence issues.To improve the convergence performance of FA,a new variant named EFA is proposed.The effectiveness of EFA as a good optimizer is demonstrated by optimizing benchmark functions,and simulation results show its superior performance compared to biogeography-based optimization(BBO),bat algorithm,artificial bee colony,and FA.As an application of this algorithm to real-world problems,EFA is also applied to optimize the CR system.CR is a revolutionary technique that uses a dynamic spectrum allocation strategy to solve the spectrum scarcity problem.However,it requires optimization to meet specific performance objectives.The results obtained by EFA in CR system optimization are compared with results in the literature of BBO,simulated annealing,and genetic algorithm.Statistical results further prove that the proposed algorithm is highly efficient and provides superior results.

Automatic Sentimental Analysis by Firefly with Levy and Multilayer Perceptron

The field of sentiment analysis(SA)has grown in tandem with the aid of social networking platforms to exchange opinions and ideas.Many people share their views and ideas around the world through social media like Facebook and Twitter.The goal of opinion mining,commonly referred to as sentiment analysis,is to categorise and forecast a target’s opinion.Depending on if they provide a positive or negative perspective on a given topic,text documents or sentences can be classified.When compared to sentiment analysis,text categorization may appear to be a simple process,but number of challenges have prompted numerous studies in this area.A feature selection-based classification algorithm in conjunction with the firefly with levy and multilayer perceptron(MLP)techniques has been proposed as a way to automate sentiment analysis(SA).In this study,online product reviews can be enhanced by integrating classification and feature election.The firefly(FF)algorithm was used to extract features from online product reviews,and a multi-layer perceptron was used to classify sentiment(MLP).The experiment employs two datasets,and the results are assessed using a variety of criteria.On account of these tests,it is possible to conclude that the FFL-MLP algorithm has the better classification performance for Canon(98%accuracy)and iPod(99%accuracy).

A Modified Firefly Optimization Algorithm-Based Fuzzy Packet Scheduler for MANET

In Mobile ad hoc Networks(MANETs),the packet scheduling process is considered the major challenge because of error-prone connectivity among mobile nodes that introduces intolerable delay and insufficient throughput with high packet loss.In this paper,a Modified Firefly Optimization Algorithm improved Fuzzy Scheduler-based Packet Scheduling(MFPA-FSPS)Mechanism is proposed for sustaining Quality of Service(QoS)in the network.This MFPA-FSPS mechanism included a Fuzzy-based priority scheduler by inheriting the merits of the Sugeno Fuzzy inference system that potentially and adaptively estimated packets’priority for guaranteeing optimal network performance.It further used the modified Firefly Optimization Algorithm to optimize the rules uti-lized by the fuzzy inference engine to achieve the potential packet scheduling pro-cess.This adoption of a fuzzy inference engine used dynamic optimization that guaranteed excellent scheduling of the necessitated packets at an appropriate time with minimized waiting time.The statistical validation of the proposed MFPA-FSPS conducted using a one-way Analysis of Variance(ANOVA)test confirmed its predominance over the benchmarked schemes used for investigation.

Hybrid Clustering Using Firefly Optimization and Fuzzy C-Means Algorithm

Classifying the data into a meaningful group is one of the fundamental ways of understanding and learning the valuable information. High-quality clustering methods are necessary for the valuable and efficient analysis of the increasing data. The Firefly Algorithm (FA) is one of the bio-inspired algorithms and it is recently used to solve the clustering problems. In this paper, Hybrid F-Firefly algorithm is developed by combining the Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) with FA to improve the clustering accuracy with global optimum solution. The Hybrid F-Firefly algorithm is developed by incorporating FCM operator at the end of each iteration in FA algorithm. This proposed algorithm is designed to utilize the goodness of existing algorithm and to enhance the original FA algorithm by solving the shortcomings in the FCM algorithm like the trapping in local optima and sensitive to initial seed points. In this research work, the Hybrid F-Firefly algorithm is implemented and experimentally tested for various performance measures under six different benchmark datasets. From the experimental results, it is observed that the Hybrid F-Firefly algorithm significantly improves the intra-cluster distance when compared with the existing algorithms like K-means, FCM and FA algorithm.

Optimal Power Flow Using Firefly Algorithm with Unified Power Flow Controller

Firefly algorithm is the new intelligent algorithm used for all complex engineering optimization problems. Power system has many complex optimization problems one of which is the optimal power flow (OPF). Basically, it is minimizing optimization problem and subjected to many complex objective functions and constraints. Hence, firefly algorithm is used to solve OPF in this paper. The aim of the firefly is to optimize the control variables, namely generated real power, voltage magnitude and tap setting of transformers. Flexible AC Transmission system (FACTS) devices may used in the power system to improve the quality of the power supply and to reduce the cost of the generation. FACTS devices are classified into series, shunt, shunt-series and series-series connected devices. Unified power flow controller (UPFC) is shunt-series type device that posses all capabilities to control real, reactive powers, voltage and reactance of the connected line in the power system. Hence, UPFC is included in the considered IEEE 30 bus for the OPF solution.

Firefly Algorithm in Determining Maximum Load Utilization Point and Its Enhancement through Optimal Placement of FACTS Device

In a Power System, load is the most uncertain and extremely time varying unit. Hence it is important to determine the system’s supreme acceptable loadability limit called maximum loadability point to accommodate the sudden variation of load demand. Nowadays the enhancement of the maximum loadability point is essential to meet the rapid growth of load demand by improvising the system’s load utilization capacity. Flexible AC Transmission system devices (FACTS) with their speed and flexibility will play a key role in enhancing the controllability and power transfer capability of the system. Considering the theme of FACTS devices in the loadability limit enhancement, in this paper maximum loadability limit determination and its enhancement are prepared with the help of swarm intelligence based meta-heuristic Firefly Algorithm(FFA) by finding the optimal loading factor for each load and optimally placing the SVC (Shunt Compensation) and TCSC (Series Compensation) FACTS devices in the system. To illuminate the effectiveness of FACTS devices in the loadability enhancement, the line contingency scenario is also concerned in the study. The study of FACTS based maximum system load utilization acceptability point determination is demonstrated with the help of modified IEEE 30 bus, IEEE 57 Bus and IEEE 118 Bus test systems. The results of FACTS devices involvement in determining the maximum loading point enhance the load utilization point in normal state and also help to overcome the system violation in transmissionline contingency state. Also the firefly algorithm in determining the maximum loadability point provides better search capability with faster convergence rate compared to that of Particle swarm optimization (PSO) and Differential evolution algorithm.

An Improved Lung Cancer Segmentation Based on Nature-Inspired Optimization Approaches

The distinction and precise identification of tumor nodules are crucial for timely lung cancer diagnosis andplanning intervention. This research work addresses the major issues pertaining to the field of medical imageprocessing while focusing on lung cancer Computed Tomography (CT) images. In this context, the paper proposesan improved lung cancer segmentation technique based on the strengths of nature-inspired approaches. Thebetter resolution of CT is exploited to distinguish healthy subjects from those who have lung cancer. In thisprocess, the visual challenges of the K-means are addressed with the integration of four nature-inspired swarmintelligent techniques. The techniques experimented in this paper are K-means with Artificial Bee Colony (ABC),K-means with Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA), K-means with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Kmeanswith Firefly Algorithm (FFA). The testing and evaluation are performed on Early Lung Cancer ActionProgram (ELCAP) database. The simulation analysis is performed using lung cancer images set against metrics:precision, sensitivity, specificity, f-measure, accuracy,Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC), Jaccard, and Dice.The detailed evaluation shows that the K-means with Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA) significantly improved thequality of lung cancer segmentation in comparison to the other optimization approaches utilized for lung cancerimages. The results exhibit that the proposed approach (K-means with CSA) achieves precision, sensitivity, and Fmeasureof 0.942, 0.964, and 0.953, respectively, and an average accuracy of 93%. The experimental results prove thatK-meanswithABC,K-meanswith PSO,K-meanswith FFA, andK-meanswithCSAhave achieved an improvementof 10.8%, 13.38%, 13.93%, and 15.7%, respectively, for accuracy measure in comparison to K-means segmentationfor lung cancer images. Further, it is highlighted that the proposed K-means with CSA have achieved a significantimprovement in accuracy, hence can be utilized by researchers for improved segmentation processes of medicalimage datasets for identifying the targeted region of interest.

Detection and Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy Through Identification of Blood Vessel Thickness Using FOFF & ML Classifiers

Diabetes is a significant issue in the medical field. The detection and identification of the human eye diseases caused by excessive blood sugar levels in diabetes mellitus are important. The main objective of this study is to propose a viable solution for diagnosis using fundus images. This study presents a stage by stage implementation methodology. The original fundus image is first preprocessed, then the blood vessels are segmented, and finally the features are extracted and classified. This work uses an effective way to introduce a meta-heuristic algorithm. Blood Vessel Segmentation(BVS) is vital in DR(Diabetic Retinopathy) detection;hence, this research proposes a Firefly-Optimized Frangi based Filter(FOFF). Categorizing the disease is the last procedure. The classifier K-Nearest Neighbour(KNN) has an accuracy of 91.62%, while the SVM does well with an accuracy score of 95.54%.

A Novel Hybrid FA-Based LSSVR Learning Paradigm for Hydropower Consumption Forecasting

Due to the nonlinearity and nonstationary of hydropower market data, a novel hybrid learning paradigm is proposed to predict hydropower consumption, by incorporating firefly algorithm （FA） into least square support vector regression （LSSVR）, i.e., FA-based LSSVR model. In the novel model, the powerful and effective artificial intelligence （AI） technique, i.e., LSSVR, is employed to forecast hydropower consumption. Furthermore, a promising AI optimization tool, i.e., FA, is espe- cially introduced to address the crucial but difficult task of parameters determination in LSSVR （e.g., hyper and kernel function parameters）. With the Chinese hydropower consumption as sample data, the empirical study has statistically confirmed the superiority of the novel FA-based LSSVR model to other benchmark models （including existing popular traditional econometric models, AI models and similar hybrid LSSVRs with other popular parameter searching tools）~ in terms of level and direc- tional accuracy. The empirical results also imply that the hybrid FA-based LSSVR learning paradigm with powerful forecasting tool and parameters optimization method can be employed as an effective forecasting tool for not only hydropower consumption but also other complex data.