In this study, a neural network-based approach is proposed for the identification of nonlinear static systems. A variant called ABCES (ABC Based on Effective Scout Bee Stage) is introduced for neural network training. Two important changes are carried out with ABCES. The first is an update of “limit” control parameters. In ABC algorithm, “limit” value is fixed. It is adaptively adjusted according to number of iterations in ABCES. In this way, the efficiency of the scout bee stage is increased. Secondly, a new solution-generating mechanism for the scout bee stage is proposed. In ABC algorithm, new solutions are created randomly. It is aimed at developing previous solutions in the scout bee stage of ABCES. The performance of ABCES is analyzed on two different problem groups. First, its performance is evaluated on 13 numerical benchmark test problems. The results are compared with ABC, GA, PSO and DE. Next, the neural network is trained by ABCES to identify nonlinear static systems. 6 nonlinear static test problems are used. The performance of ABCES in neural network training is compared with ABC, PSO and HS. The results show that ABCES is generally effective in the identification of nonlinear static systems based on neural networks.

It is one of the topics that have been studied extensively on maximum power point tracking (MPPT) recently. Traditional or soft computing methods are used for MPPT. Since soft computing approaches are more effective than traditional approaches, studies on MPPT have shifted in this direction. This study aims comparison of performance of seven meta-heuristic training algorithms in the neuro-fuzzy training for MPPT. The meta-heuristic training algorithms used are particle swarm optimization (PSO), harmony search (HS), cuckoo search (CS), artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm, bee algorithm (BA), differential evolution (DE) and flower pollination algorithm (FPA). The antecedent and conclusion parameters of neuro-fuzzy are determined by these algorithms. The data of a 250 W photovoltaic (PV) is used in the applications. For effective MPPT, different neuro-fuzzy structures, different membership functions and different control parameter values are evaluated in detail. Related training algorithms are compared in terms of solution quality and convergence speed. The strengths and weaknesses of these algorithms are revealed. It is seen that the type and number of membership function, colony size, number of generations affect the solution quality and convergence speed of the training algorithms. As a result, it has been observed that CS and ABC algorithm are more effective than other algorithms in terms of solution quality and convergence in solving the related problem.

One of the most used artificial intelligence techniques for maximum power point tracking is artificial neural networks. In order to achieve successful results in maximum power point tracking, the training process of artificial neural networks is important. Metaheuristic algorithms are used extensively in the literature for neural network training. An important group of metaheuristic algorithms is swarm-intelligent-based optimization algorithms. In this study, feed-forward neural network training is carried out for maximum power point tracking by using 13 swarm-intelligent-based optimization algorithms. These algorithms are artificial bee colony, butterfly optimization, cuckoo search, chicken swarm optimization, dragonfly algorithm, firefly algorithm, grasshopper optimization algorithm, krill herd algorithm, particle swarm optimization, salp swarm algorithm, selfish herd optimizer, tunicate swarm algorithm, and tuna swarm optimization. Mean squared error is used as the error metric, and the performances of the algorithms in different network structures are evaluated. Considering the results, a success ranking score is obtained for each algorithm. The three most successful algorithms in both training and testing processes are the firefly algorithm, selfish herd optimizer, and grasshopper optimization algorithm, respectively. The training error values obtained with these algorithms are 4.5 × 10⁻⁴, 1.6 × 10⁻³, and 2.3 × 10⁻³, respectively. The test error values are 4.6 × 10⁻⁴, 1.6 × 10⁻³, and 2.4 × 10⁻³, respectively. With these algorithms, effective results have been achieved in a low number of evaluations. In addition to these three algorithms, other algorithms have also achieved mostly acceptable results. This shows that the related algorithms are generally successful ANFIS training algorithms for maximum power point tracking.

In this study, a hybrid method based on the marine predators algorithm (MPA) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is presented to identify nonlinear systems exhibiting symmetrical or asymmetrical behavior. In other words, the antecedent and conclusion parameters of the ANFIS are adjusted by the MPA. The performance of the MPA is evaluated on eight nonlinear systems. The mean squared error is used as the error metric. Successful results were obtained on the eight systems. The best mean training error values belonging to the eight systems are 1.6 × 10⁻⁶, 3.2 × 10⁻³, 1.5 × 10⁻⁵, 9.2 × 10⁻⁶, 3.2 × 10⁻⁵, 2.3 × 10⁻³, 1.7 × 10⁻⁵, and 8.7 × 10⁻⁶. In the ANFIS training carried out to solve the related problems, the performance of the MPA was compared with the butterfly optimization algorithm, the flower pollination algorithm, moth–flame optimization, the multi-verse optimizer, the crystal structure algorithm, the dandelion optimizer, the RIME algorithm, and the salp swarm algorithm. The results have shown that the performance of the MPA mostly outperforms other algorithms in both training and testing processes.

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are used to solve many problems, such as modeling, identification, prediction, and classification. The success of ANN is directly related to the training process. Meta-heuristic algorithms are used extensively for ANN training. Within the scope of this study, a feed-forward artificial neural network (FFNN) is trained using the marine predators algorithm (MPA), one of the current meta-heuristic algorithms. Namely, this study is aimed to evaluate the performance of MPA in ANN training in detail. Identification/modeling of nonlinear systems is chosen as the problem. Six nonlinear systems are used in the applications. Some of them are static, and some are dynamic. Mean squared error (MSE) is utilized as the error metric. Effective training and testing results were obtained using MPA. The best mean error values obtained for six nonlinear systems are 2.3 × 10⁻⁴, 1.8 × 10⁻³, 1.0 × 10⁻⁴, 1.0 × 10⁻⁴, 1.2 × 10⁻⁵, and 2.5 × 10⁻⁴. The performance of MPA is compared with 16 meta-heuristic algorithms. The results have shown that the performance of MPA is better than other algorithms in ANN training for the identification of nonlinear systems.

Predicting the number of COVID-19 cases offers a reflection of the future, and it is important for the implementation of preventive measures. The numbers of COVID-19 cases are constantly changing on a daily. Adaptive methods are needed for an effective estimation instead of traditional methods. In this study, a novel method based on neuro-fuzzy and FPA is proposed to estimate the number of COVID-19 cases. The antecedent and conclusion parameters of the neuro-fuzzy model are determined by using FPA. In other words, neuro-fuzzy training is carried out with FPA. The number of COVID-19 cases belonging to twenty countries including USA, India, Brazil, Russian, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Colombia, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, Iran, Peru, Ukraine, South Africa, the Netherlands and Indonesia is estimated. Time series is created using the number of COVID-19 cases. Daily, weekly and monthly estimates are realized by utilizing these time series. MSE is used as the error metric. Although it varies according to the example and problem type, the best training error values between 0.000398027 and 0.0286562 are obtained. These best test error values are between 0.0005607 and 0.409867. The best training and test error values are 0.000398027 and 0.0005607, respectively. In addition to FPA, the number of cases is also predicted with the algorithms such as particle swarm optimization, harmony search, bee algorithm, differential evolution and their performances are compared. Success score and ranking are created for all algorithms. The scores of FPA for the daily, weekly and monthly forecast are 71, 77 and 62, respectively. These scores have shown that neuro-fuzzy training based on FPA is successful than other meta-heuristic algorithms for all three prediction types in the short- and medium-term estimation of COVID-19 case numbers.