Visualizing the impact of probability distributions on particle swarm optimization

Abstract

In this paper we present a simulation tool for the visualization of the impact of different probability distributions on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). PSO is influenced by a high number of random values in order to simulate a more nature like behaviour. Based on these random numbers the optimization process may vary. Usually the uniform distribution is chosen but regarding certain underlying fitness functions this may not the best choice. To test the influence of different probability distributions on PSO and to compare the different approaches, the presented simulation system consist of a simple user interface and allows the integration of own distribution formulas in order to test their impact on PSO. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.