Brain storm optimization algorithm: a review

For swarm intelligence algorithms, each individual in the swarm represents a solution in the search space, and it also can be seen as a data sample from the search space. Based on the analyses of these data, more effective algorithms and search strategies could be proposed. Brain storm optimization (BSO) algorithm is a new and promising swarm intelligence algorithm, which simulates the human brainstorming process. Through the convergent operation and divergent operation, individuals in BSO are grouped and diverged in the search space/objective space. In this paper, the history development, and the state-of-the-art of the BSO algorithm are reviewed. In addition, the convergent operation and divergent operation in the BSO algorithm are also discussed from the data analysis perspective. Every individual in the BSO algorithm is not only a solution to the problem to be optimized, but also a data point to reveal the landscape of the problem. Swarm intelligence and data mining techniques can be combined to produce benefits above and beyond what either method could achieve alone.