Using the expanded IWO algorithm to solve the traveling salesman problem

The Invasive Weed Optimization algorithm (IWO) is an optimization metaheuristic inspired by dynamic growth of weeds colony. The authors of the present paper have expanded the strategy of the search space exploration of the IWO algorithm introducing a hybrid method along with a concept of the family selection applied in the phase of creating individuals. The goal of the project was to evaluate the expanded IWO version (exIWO) as well as the original IWO by testing their usefulness for solving some test instances of the traveling salesman problem (TSP) taken from the TSPLIB collection which allows to compare the experimental results with outcomes reported in the literature. The results produced by other heuristic algorithms as well as the methods based on the self-organizing maps served as the reference points.