Adaptive Elite Cuckoo Search Algorithm with Step-Size Control and Elitism Crossover for Global Optimization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/jcrinn.v11i2.609Keywords:
Adaptive step-size, crossover, cuckoo search algorithm, elitism, metaheuristic algorithm, optimizationAbstract
Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA) has emerged as a powerful bio-inspired metaheuristic, yet its reliance on random-walk search often leads to slow convergence and susceptibility to local optima. This study introduces an Adaptive Elite Cuckoo Search Algorithm (AECSA), designed to enhance both convergence speed and solution precision. The proposed modifications integrate two key mechanisms: (i) an adaptive step-size strategy that dynamically adjusts the Lévy flight scale to balance global exploration and local exploitation, and (ii) an elitist crossover scheme that enables information sharing among the top-performing solutions to accelerate progress toward the global optimum. The AECSA was validated across six classical benchmark functions under extensive simulations. Results demonstrate that AECSA consistently outperforms the standard CSA, achieving up to 85% faster convergence and significantly improved solution accuracy, with statistical validation via a two-tailed t-test. These findings highlight the robustness and efficiency of AECSA, making it a promising approach for tackling complex, high-dimensional optimization problems in engineering and computational intelligence.
Downloads
References
Abu-Ein, A. A., Al-Hazaimeh, O. M., Tawfik, M., & Fathi, I. S. (2026). Dynamic fog node placement optimization using adaptive dynamic pufferfish optimization for real-time IoT networks. Scientific Reports, 16(1), 11624. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41740-8.
Acharjee, S., & Chaudhuri, S. S. (2023). Modified Cuckoo Search algorithm for motion vector estimation. International Arab Journal of Information Technology, 20(3), 340-348. https://doi.org/10.34028/iajit/20/3/6.
Alibabaei Shahraki, M. (2025). Cloud drift optimization algorithm as a nature-inspired metaheuristic. Discover Computing, 28(1), 173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10791-025-09671-6.
BahraniPour, F., Farshi, M., & Ebrahimi Mood, S. (2025). Enhanced multi-objective cuckoo search with migration operator for benchmark optimization and IoT task scheduling in cloud-fog computing. Journal of Supercomputing, 81(8), Article 1024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-025-07531-0.
Begum, F., & Valan, J. A. (2026). Enhancing heart disease diagnosis with Meta-Heuristic Algorithms: A combined HHO and PSO Approach. Biomedical Materials & Devices, 4(1), 574-589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44174-025-00288-3.
Cai, M. (2025). Using Cuckoo search algorithm to predict corporate financial risks and alleviate economic uncertainty. International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems, 18(1), 216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44196-025-00950-0.
Chandrasekaran, K., & Simon, S. P. (2012). Multi-objective scheduling problem: Hybrid approach using fuzzy assisted cuckoo search algorithm. Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, 5(0), 1-16. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.swevo.2012.01.001.
Chauhan, D., Shivani, & Suganthan, P. N. (2025). Learning strategies for particle swarm optimizer: A critical review and performance analysis. Swarm and Evolutionary Computation, 98, 102048. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.swevo.2025.102048.
Chen, J., Cai, Z., Chen, H., Chen, X., Escorcia-Gutierrez, J., Mansour, R. F., & Ragab, M. (2023a). Renal Pathology Images Segmentation Based on Improved Cuckoo Search with Diffusion Mechanism and Adaptive Beta-Hill Climbing. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 20(5), 2240-2275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-023-00365-7.
Chen, Y., Tan, B., & Zeng, L. (2023b). Inspection path planning of free-form surfaces based on improved Cuckoo Search Algorithm. Measurement and Control, 56(7-8), 1321-1332. https://doi.org/10.1177/00202940231157422.
Choudhary, A., & Rajak, R. (2026). EMMCA: Enhancing modified Min-Min using Cuckoo search algorithm in cloud computing. Evolving Systems, 17(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12530-025-09768-9.
Dar, T. H., Singh, S., & Duru, K. K. (2025). Lithium-ion battery parameter estimation based on variational and logistic map cuckoo search algorithm. Electrical Engineering, 107(2), 1427-1440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00202-024-02580-9.
Dorigo, M., Maniezzo, V., & Colorni, A. (1991). The Ant System: An autocatalytic optimizing process. TR91-016, Politecnico Di Milano, 1-21.
Ekinci, S., Izci, D., Kayri, M., Elsayed, F., & Salman, M. (2025). A novel hybridization of birds of prey-based optimization with differential evolution mutation and crossover for chaotic dynamics identification. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 43451. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-27220-5.
Gaborit, R., van der Hurk, E., Nielsen, O. A., & Jiang, Y. (2026). Optimisation of bus timetables: An adaptive large neighbourhood search-based matheuristic with a novel operator weight. European Journal of Operational Research, 333(1), 38-52. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2026.01.032.
Garg, P., Gautam, M., & Sharma, V. (2025). GCSO: Grey-Cuckoo search based optimization for security of medical images through watermarking. Circuits, Systems, and Signal Processing, 44(8), 6027-6055. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00034-025-03083-z.
Higashi, N., & Iba, H. (2003). Particle swarm optimization with Gaussian mutation. In Proceedings of the 2003 IEEE Swarm Intelligence Symposium (pp. 72-79). https://doi.org/10.1109/SIS.2003.1202250.
Holland, J. H. (1992). Adaptation in natural and artificial systems. MIT Press.
Katoch, S., Chauhan, S. S., & Kumar, V. (2021). A review on genetic algorithm: past, present, and future. Multimed Tools Appl, 80(5), 8091-8126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-020-10139-6.
Maddaiah, P. N., & Narayanan, P. P. (2023). An improved Cuckoo search algorithm for optimization of artificial neural network training. Neural Processing Letters, 55(9), 12093-12120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11063-023-11411-0.
Mazari, A., Laroussi, K., Fergani, O., Abbas, H. A., & Rezk, H. (2025). A hybrid whale optimization—Cuckoo search algorithm for maximum power point tracking in PMSG-Based wind turbine systems. International Transactions on Electrical Energy Systems, 2025(1), 7411272. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1155/etep/7411272.
Mechaacha, A., Belkaid, F., & Brahimi, N. (2026). Multi-objective multi-product process planning with reconfigurable machines: Exact and metaheuristic approaches. Expert Systems with Applications, 298, 129591. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2025.129591.
Mimansha, & Kumar, A. (2025). Reliability optimization of complex system under failure dependencies: a dynamic method in adaptive cuckoo optimization. International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 16(6), 2166-2175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-025-02754-z.
Ong, K. M., Ong, P., & Sia, C. K. (2021). A carnivorous plant algorithm for solving global optimization problems. Applied Soft Computing, 98, 106833. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2020.106833.
Ouyang, C., Liu, X., Zhu, D., Li, Y., Mao, J., Zhou, C., & Xue, J. (2025). Hierarchical adaptive cuckoo search algorithm for global optimization. Cluster Computing, 28(5), 321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10586-024-04924-3.
Pavithra, L., & Rekha, D. (2025). Real time broadcast scheduling in tsch for smart healthcare using Cuckoo search algorithm. Results in Engineering, 105018. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.105018.
Safdar, K., Rani, K. N. A., Rosli, S. J., Jamlos, M. A., & Younus, M. U. (2025). Modified Cuckoo search algorithm using sigmoid decreasing inertia weight for global optimization. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 33(5), 2069-2095. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.33.5.03.
Saleh, B. J., Omar, Z., As’ari, M. A., Bhateja, V., & Izhar, L. I. (2025). A novel hybrid deep learning model based on simulated annealing and Cuckoo Search algorithms for automatic radiomics-based COVID-19 diagnosis. Applied Computational Intelligence and Soft Computing, 2025(1), 8829294. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1155/acis/8829294.
Salgotra, R., Singh, S., Verma, P., Abualigah, L., & Gandomi, A. H. (2025). Mutation adaptive cuckoo search hybridized naked mole rat algorithm for industrial engineering problems. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 19655. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01033-y.
Salinas-Gutiérrez, R., & Muñoz Zavala, A. E. (2023). An explicit exploration strategy for evolutionary algorithms. Applied Soft Computing, 140, 110230. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2023.110230.
Shi, X., Javidan, S. M., Ampatzidis, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2025). AI-driven identification of grapevine fungal spores via microscopic imaging and feature optimization with cuckoo search algorithm: ClassifierSVM with linear kernelDTk-NNAccuracy (%) 97.5076. 4280.01. Smart Agricultural Technology, 11, 101029. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101029.
Subha, S., & Kumaran. (2025). Adaptive cuckoo search algorithm based fuzzy C means clustering with random walker algorithm for liver segmentation using CT images. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 84(8), 5051-5068. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11042-024-18708-9.
Tian, X., Yang, B., Na, X., Cheng, S., Ba, L., & Yuan, Y. (2025). An improved cuckoo search algorithm for inverse heat conduction and heat convection. Chinese Journal of Physics, 95, 765-789. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjph.2025.03.039.
Tian, Y., Zhang, D., Zhang, H., Zhu, J., & Yue, X. (2024). An improved cuckoo search algorithm for global optimization. Cluster Computing, 27(6), 8595-8619. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10586-024-04410-w.
Torres-Cardenas, F. A., Lozano Suarez, L. M., & Díaz Bohórquez, C. E. (2026). A multi-objective black widow spider algorithm for solving the flexible job shop problem with energy efficiency and transport time. Soft Computing, 30, 3503-3523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-026-11297-9.
Walton, S., Hassan, O., Morgan, K., & Brown, M. R. (2011). Modified cuckoo search: A new gradient free optimisation algorithm. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 44(9), 710-718. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chaos.2011.06.004.
Wang, X., & Xu, H. (2026). Multi-strategy enhanced human evolution optimization algorithm and its engineering applications. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 17(1), 103818. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2025.103818.
Wu, L., Li, Z., Dong, W., Ye, H., & Jiang, M. (2026). Integrated scheduling method for heavy-haul transportation with virtual coupling based on two-phase optimization strategy. Expert Systems with Applications, 297, 129326. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2025.129326.
Xin-She, Y., & Deb, S. (2009). Cuckoo Search via Lévy flights. In 2009 World Congress on Nature & Biologically Inspired Computing (NaBIC) (pp. 210-214). https://doi.org/10.1109/NABIC.2009.5393690.
Yajid, M. S. A., Bhosle, N., Sudhamsu, G., Khatibi, A., Sharma, S., Jeet, R.,…Santhosh, A. J. (2025). Hybrid big bang-big crunch with cuckoo search for feature selection in credit card fraud detection. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 23925. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97149-2.
Yang, J., Liu, J., & Liu, J. (2025). A hybrid evolution Jaya algorithm for meteorological drone trajectory planning. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 137, 115655. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2024.115655.
Yang, X.-S., & Deb, S. (2010). Engineering optimisation by cuckoo search. International Journal of Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Optimisation, 1(4), 330-343. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMMNO.2010.03543.
Yang, X., Hao, X., Yang, T., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., & Wang, J. (2023). Elite-guided multi-objective cuckoo search algorithm based on crossover operation and information enhancement. Soft Computing, 27(8), 4761-4778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-022-07605-8.
Yin, S., Tu, J., & Chen, X. (2025). A new tree-based data aggregation method in the wireless sensor networks using Ant Colony Optimization and Cuckoo search algorithms. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 72(1), 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-025-00652-6.
Yu, X., & Luo, W. (2023). Reinforcement learning-based multi-strategy cuckoo search algorithm for 3D UAV path planning. Expert Systems with Applications, 223, 119910. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.119910.
Yu, X., Xu, P., Wang, X., & Zhang, W. (2026). Optimizing islanded microgrid scheduling with reinforcement learning enhanced multi-strategy cuckoo search algorithm. Applied Soft Computing, 186, 114251. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2025.114251.
Zhou, N., Xu, K., & Ma, L. (2026). An adaptive decision sand cat swarm optimization algorithm combined with Q-learning for solving engineering problems. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 73(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44147-026-00885-z.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Pauline Ong, Jia Hang Wu (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.