A differential evolution algorithm combined with Lévy Flight for dimensional synthesis of four-bar linkage

AbstractThe paper considers dimensional synthesis of a path generator four-bar linkage by applying the modified Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm. During the search of the space, the DE algorithm may skip the right solution and lead to premature convergence. If the step is reduced, the search space is reduced as well, so that convergence becomes slower. Search efficiency may be achieved by including Lévy Flight in the DE algorithm. Namely, when the DE algorithm identifies the space of best solution, then a Levý Flight step is used for local search in that region, which significantly increases the exploitation capability and allows obtaining a very efficient solution of the optimization problem. The algorithm was tested with three examples of dimensional synthesis of a path generator four-bar linkage. The proposed algorithm can be very efficiently applied to solving very complex optimization problems.Keywords: Differential evolutionLévy flightdimensional synthesisfour-bar linkagepath generation Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work has been supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, through the Contracts for the scientific-research activity realization and financing in 2023: 451-03-47/2023-01/200108, 451-03-47/2023-01/200029 and 451-03-47/2023-01/200102.