This paper proposes an improved African vulture optimization algorithm (IROAVOA), which integrates the random opposition-based learning strategy and disturbance factor to solve problems such as the relatively weak global search capability and the poor ability to balance exploration and exploitation stages. IROAVOA is divided into two parts. Firstly, the random opposition-based learning strategy is introduced in the population initialization stage to improve the diversity of the population, enabling the algorithm to more comprehensively explore the potential solution space and improve the convergence speed of the algorithm. Secondly, the disturbance factor is introduced at the exploration stage to increase the randomness of the algorithm, effectively avoiding falling into the local optimal solution and allowing a better balance of the exploration and exploitation stages. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, comprehensive testing was conducted using the 23 benchmark test functions, the CEC2019 test suite, and two engineering optimization problems. The algorithm was compared with seven state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms in benchmark test experiments and compared with five algorithms in engineering optimization experiments. The experimental results indicate that IROAVOA achieved better mean and optimal values in all test functions and achieved significant improvement in convergence speed. It can also solve engineering optimization problems better than the other five algorithms.

In response to the issues of premature convergence and insufficient parameter control in Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for high-dimensional complex optimization problems, this paper proposes a Multi-Strategy Topological Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (MSTPSO). The method builds upon a reinforcement learning-driven topological switching framework, where Q-learning dynamically selects among fully informed topology, small-world topology, and exemplar-set topology to achieve an adaptive balance between global exploration and local exploitation. Furthermore, the algorithm integrates differential evolution perturbations and a global optimal restart strategy based on stagnation detection, together with a dual-layer experience replay mechanism to enhance population diversity at multiple levels and strengthen the ability to escape local optima. Experimental results on 29 CEC2017 benchmark functions, compared against various PSO variants and other advanced evolutionary algorithms, show that MSTPSO achieves superior fitness performance and exhibits stronger stability on high-dimensional and complex functions. Ablation studies further validate the critical contribution of the Q-learning-based multi-topology control and stagnation detection mechanisms to performance improvement. Overall, MSTPSO demonstrates significant advantages in convergence accuracy and global search capability.