Abstract
The Aquila Optimizer (AO) is a newly proposed, highly capable metaheuristic algorithm based on the hunting and search behavior of the Aquila bird. However, the AO faces some challenges when dealing with high-dimensional optimization problems due to its narrow exploration capabilities and a tendency to converge prematurely to local optima, which can decrease its performance in complex scenarios. This paper presents a modified form of the previously proposed AO, the Locality Opposition-Based Learning Aquila Optimizer (LOBLAO), aimed at resolving such issues and improving the performance of tasks related to global optimization and data clustering in particular. The proposed LOBLAO incorporates two key advancements: the Opposition-Based Learning (OBL) strategy, which enhances solution diversity and balances exploration and exploitation, and the Mutation Search Strategy (MSS), which mitigates the risk of local optima and ensures robust exploration of the search space. Comprehensive experiments on benchmark test functions and data clustering problems demonstrate the efficacy of LOBLAO. The results reveal that LOBLAO outperforms the original AO and several state-of-the-art optimization algorithms, showcasing superior performance in tackling high-dimensional datasets. In particular, LOBLAO achieved the best average ranking of 1.625 across multiple clustering problems, underscoring its robustness and versatility. These findings highlight the significant potential of LOBLAO to solve diverse and challenging optimization problems, establishing it as a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners.