Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA): A Swarm Intelligence Optimization Algorithm for
the Application to Solve Practical Engineering Examples
1. Introduction
The sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is an effective optimization technique,
which simulates the group wisdom foraging and anti-predation behaviors of
sparrows. Searching is the process which is to look into or over carefully or
thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something [1]. In sparrow search is
the simple act of gathering food, either for immediate consumption or future
storage. The sparrows are generally gregarious birds and have various
species. They are distributed in most parts of the world and like to live in
places where the human life [2]. In addition to their importance of sparrows
have been significant to human society in myriad ways Moreover, they are
and mainly feed on seeds of grains or weeds. It is well known that the
sparrows are common resident birds. In the comparison with many other
small birds, the sparrow is strongly intelligent and has a strong memory [3].
The effectiveness of the SSA is evaluated to the optimization problems
belongs common in the engineering applications and the techniques
involved in SSA is to be implemented to solve global optimization problems
because of its simplicity, flexibility and high efficiency.
2. Inspiration of SSA
The main inspiration of the SSA is the searching behavior of sparrow
for food [4]. The main food of sparrow includes grains or weeds. Sparrows
are opportunistic, intelligent feeders and often use a variety of feeding
techniques, adapting their methods to best suit the current conditions of
their habitat and prey [5]. To feed successfully, sparrow use an technique
called foraging techniques which is defined as acquisition of food by
searching, hunting, or the gathering of food. The foraging technique in
sparrow is when a bird does detect a predator, one or more individuals give
a chirp and the entire group flies away [6].
SSA observed that house sparrows showed high fidelity to their roles
as producer or scrounger, leading them to speculate that PS roles could be
individually fixed. However, later experiments showed that role consistency
and flexibility vary greatly from species to species and also depend on
experimental conditions [7]. While foraging, animals often utilize group
members to obtain food. One way to describe this behavior is with the
producer-scrounger (PS) model, where scroungers use social interaction to
obtain food discovered by producers. Scroungers preferentially joined birds
of lower dominance rank and high search activity. Producers with these
qualities had fewer eating events with full access to seeds, suggesting that
scrounging exacts a fetch on producers [8].
Fig 1: Inspiration of SSA
3. Lifecycle of sparrow
Sparrows are generally short-lived, with an average lifespan of two to three
years [9]. The female incubates the eggs for 12 days and young fledge at
when they are between 9 and 11 days old within a week they follow their
parents in search of food. The parents also continue to feed them, bringing
them such things as fat grubs, often as big as the fledglings’ own heads
[10]. At the age of three or four weeks the young birds are fully capable of
looking after themselves.Fledge is the stage in a young bird’s life when the
feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight [11]. It also
describes the act of a chick’s parents raising it to a fully grown state. A
young bird that has recently fledged but is still dependent upon parental
care and feeding is called a fledgling. Adult stage is ready for searching
food.
3. Lifecycle of sparrow
Sparrows are generally short-lived, with an average lifespan of two to three
years [9]. The female incubates the eggs for 12 days and young fledge at when
they are between 9 and 11 days old within a week they follow their parents
in search of food. The parents also continue to feed them, bringing them
such things as fat grubs, often as big as the fledglings’ own heads [10]. At the
age of three or four weeks the young birds are fully capable of looking after
themselves.Fledge is the stage in a young bird’s life when the feathers and
wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight [11]. It also describes the
act of a chick’s parents raising it to a fully grown state. A young bird that has
recently fledged but is still dependent upon parental care and feeding is
called a fledgling. Adult stage is ready for searching food.
2: Lifecycle of sparrow
4. Role of producers and scroungers
Fig
Sparrows foraging in groups can obtain food by searching or by social
interaction with other group members [12]. This scenario has been examined
with the producer-scrounger (PS) model, where producers actively search
for food and scroungers profit from producers’ efforts through joining or
stealing. Formulated the feeding trials to regulate if certain individuals prefer
producer or scrounger roles within a foraging group if the roles are consistent
over consecutive trials and if dominance rank or relatedness affects joining
behavior [13]. By analyzing patterns of joining behavior, we were also able to
explore how certain characteristics of a producer might affect a scrounger’s
decision to join and if this had negative consequences for the producer.
Fig3: Role of producers and scroungers
5. Flowchart of SSA
Fig 4: Flowchart of SSA
6. Pseudo code of SSA
5: Pseudo code of SSA
7. Numerical Implementation of SSA
Fig
Fig
6: Fitness calculation
Step1. Set a population size T ≥ n.
Consider three variables x, y and z. The problem is to find the best set of
values for x, y and z so that their total value is equal to a value t.
x+y+z=
t
(1)
Where sum x+y+z from derviating from t,
i.e.
|x + y + z — t| =
(2)
Step 2. Generate a random grouping of the sparrow in the current
population.
The position of sparrows can be represented in the following matrix:
Step 3. Compare the fitness value of the sparrow n listed in the grouping,
and copy the best one into the next generation. Discard the strings
compared.
If n is the number of sparrows and x & y shows the dimension of the variables
to be optimized. Then, the fitness value of all sparrows can be expressed as;
The function f(x) is approximated by a searching line through points that are
a finite distance apart, we can expand as;
f (x) is the fitness of the nth design, and D is the set of nondominated points
in the current population; it is assumed that each objective function has
been scaled by dividing it by an appropriate positive constant [14]. Thus, with
each iteration one must first determine all of the nondominated points
before evaluating the fitness of the designs [15]. Note that the nondominated
points have negative fitness values. This fitness function automatically
penalizes clustering of the nondominated points [16]. Thus, compared with
other selection approaches, this one is relatively simple and effective.
Step 4. If the grouping is exhausted, generate another new best one.
Where t indicates the current iteration, j =1, 2… d. Xt i, j,
is the optimal
position occupied by the producer.
Denotes the current worst and
best solution in the global optimal location.
Step 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until no more selections are required for the
next generation.
8. Advantages and disadvantages of SSA
Fig 7: Advantages & Disadvantages of SSA
9. Application of SSA
• Travelling salesman problem [17].
• Data collection [18].
• Robot path planning problem [19].
• Engineering design problem [20].
of SSA
Fig 8: Application