Ant Colony System: A Probabilistic Optimization Algorithm

The Ant Colony Algorithm is a probabilistic technique for solving combinatorial optimization problems. The core concept adapts behaviors from ant pheromone communication, which serves as an indirect form of environmental modification through stigmergy. In practical implementations, artificial ants communicate by detecting and modifying virtual pheromone trails, with key algorithmic components including pheromone initialization, evaporation mechanisms, and probabilistic path selection.