ACO Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm

Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), also known as the ant algorithm, is a probabilistic technique for finding optimal paths in graphs. Proposed by Marco Dorigo in his 1992 PhD thesis, the algorithm draws inspiration from ants' path-finding behavior during food search activities. As a simulated evolutionary algorithm, initial research has demonstrated its excellent properties. When applied to PID controller parameter optimization design problems, comparative studies with genetic algorithms reveal ACO's effectiveness as a novel evolutionary optimization method. Numerical simulations confirm its practical value and superior performance characteristics.