A New Migration and Reproduction Intelligence Algorithm: Case Study in Cloud-Based Microgrid

Inspired by the migration and reproduction of species in nature to explore suitable habitats, this paper proposed a new swarm intelligence algorithm called the Migration and Reproduction Algorithm (MARA). This new algorithm discusses how to transform the behavior of an organism looking for a suitable habitat into a mathematical model, which can solve optimization problems. MARA has some common features with other optimization methods such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the fireworks algorithm (FWA), which means MARA can also solve the optimization problems that PSO and FWA are used to, namely, high-dimensional optimization problems. MARA also has some unique features among biology-based optimization methods. In this paper, we articulated the structure of MARA by correlating it with natural biogeography; then, we demonstrated the performance of MARA on sets of 12 benchmark functions. In the end, we applied it to optimize a practical problem of power dispatching in a multi-microgrid system that proved it has certain value in practical applications.