A Novel Exponential-Weighted Method of the Antlion Optimization Algorithm for Improving the Convergence Rate

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

1.  In the section "3. Antlion Optimization Algorithm", the authors has briefly explained the basic principle and formula logic of the antlion optimization algorithm. However, based on the architecture of the paper, it is suggested to add the ALO algorithm architecture or the corresponding pseudocode to effectively sort out the original algorithm logic.

2.  In the section "4. The Proposed Algorithm: EALO", the authors declares the core improvement algorithm of the study. It is suggested to add necessary textual descriptions of the shortcomings or problematic improvement points of the original ALO algorithm to assist in explaining the rationality and necessity of the proposed EALO algorithm improvement. For example, adding a textual description of the specific effect of the boundary contraction parameter I on the convergence speed of the algorithm or the logical starting point of the boundary strategy optimization in Equation (9).

3.  In the section "5.2. The property of variable η", the authors explains the choice of η value in the EALO algorithm. However, based on scientific considerations, it is suggested to add data on the convergence accuracy and convergence speed for different values of η for all benchmark functions to supplement the reasonableness of choosing the initial parameter value of η=20.

4.  In the sections "5.3. Convergence analysis" and "5.4. Comparison results with other ALO algorithms", the authors provide comparison results with other ALO algorithms. It is suggested to increase the number of comparison cases of different algorithms in the corresponding sections to better illustrate for the effectiveness of the improved algorithms.

5.  Pay attention to the format of relevant terms in the paper. For example, the “antilion” which is in the section title of “3. Antilion Optimization Algorithm”, may not be a standard form of expression.

Author Response

Journal of Processes

Manuscript Number：  Processes-1814060

Full Title：                      A Novel Exponential-weighted Method of the Antlion Optimization Algorithm for Improving the Convergence Rate

Article Type：               Original Research

Keywords：                   Metaheuristic; Antlion optimization; Particle swarm optimization

Dear editors and reviewers,

Thank you very much for your letter and the comments about our manuscript. The manuscript has been revised carefully and thoroughly based on the comments and suggestions from the reviewers. The following colors were used to highlight the revised locations in our manuscript. The comments and our responses are given below. Thank you very much for all your help, and looking forward to hearing from you soon.

For comments from Reviewer #1:

For comments from Reviewer #2:

Text modified by authors:

Responds to the reviewer's comments:

Reviewer 1:

1. In the section "3. Antlion Optimization Algorithm", the authors have briefly explained the basic principle and formula logic of the antlion optimization algorithm. However, based on the architecture of the paper, it is suggested to add the ALO algorithm architecture or the corresponding pseudocode to effectively sort out the original algorithm logic.

Our response:

Thank you for your suggestion. We have added a new figure 1 for an architecture diagram of the ALO algorithm in section 3.

2. In the section "4. The Proposed Algorithm: EALO", the authors declare the core improvement algorithm of the study. It is suggested to add necessary textual descriptions of the shortcomings or problematic improvement points of the original ALO algorithm to assist in explaining the rationality and necessity of the proposed EALO algorithm improvement. For example, adding a textual description of the specific effect of the boundary contraction parameter I on the convergence speed of the algorithm or the logical starting point of the boundary strategy optimization in Equation (9).

Our response:

Thank you for your suggestion. We have added some text descriptions in section 4.

3. In the section "5.2. The property of variable η", the authors explain the choice of η value in the EALO algorithm. However, based on scientific considerations, it is suggested to add data on the convergence accuracy and convergence speed for different values of η for all benchmark functions to supplement the reasonableness of choosing the initial parameter value of η=20.

Our response:

Thank you for your suggestion. All the convergence speeds for different values of η for all benchmark functions have been illustrated in section 5.2.

4. In the sections "5.3. Convergence analysis" and "5.4. Comparison results with other ALO algorithms", the authors provide comparison results with other ALO algorithms. It is suggested to increase the number of comparison cases of different algorithms in the corresponding sections to better illustrate the improved algorithms' effectiveness.

Our response:

Thank you for your suggestion. We have been added the gray wolf optimization algorithm (GWO) to the comparison, and the results illustrated in Figure 8 of the manuscript.

5. Pay attention to the format of relevant terms in the paper. For example, the "antilion" which is in the section title of "3. Antilion Optimization Algorithm", may not be a standard form of expression.

Our response:

Thank you for your question. The spelling error has been fixed.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors presented a very interesting study on the Antlion Optimization Algorithm. However, there are several elements that need improvement:

1. Equation 12 is invisible (this is problematic because this is the formula on which the study is based).

2. In Algorithm 1, the font should be standardized.

3. Please align and edit all equations listed in the study.

4. The units in the charts are missing. 

Author Response

Journal of Processes

Manuscript Number：  Processes-1814060

Full Title：                      A Novel Exponential-weighted Method of the Antlion Optimization Algorithm for Improving the Convergence Rate

Article Type：               Original Research

Keywords：                   Metaheuristic; Antlion optimization; Particle swarm optimization

Dear editors and reviewers,

Thank you very much for your letter and the comments about our manuscript. The manuscript has been revised carefully and thoroughly based on the comments and suggestions from the reviewers. The following colors were used to highlight the fixed locations in our manuscript. The comments and our responses are given below. Thank you very much for all your help, and looking forward to hearing from you soon.

For comments from Reviewer #1:

For comments from Reviewer #2:

Text modified by authors:

Responds to the reviewer’s comments:

Reviewer 2:

The authors presented a very interesting study on the Antlion Optimization Algorithm. However, there are several elements that need improvement:

1. Equation 12 is invisible (this is problematic because this is the formula on which the study is based).

Our response:

Thank you for your question. It seems that there are some formatting errors in the manuscript. Equation 12 is there in the word file of the manuscript but not rendered in the pdf file. We have fixed this issue.

2. In Algorithm 1, the font should be standardized.

Our response:

Thank you for your question. The font of algorithm 1 has been standardized.

3. Please align and edit all equations listed in the study.

Our response:

Thank you for your question. All equations listed in the manuscript have been aligned.

4. The units in the charts are missing. 

Our response:

Thank you for your question. We have added instructions in Section 5.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

This manuscript has been revised in detail according to my opinion. My suggestion is acceptance.