An Enhanced Artificial Lemming Algorithm and Its Application in UAV Path Planning

This paper presents an enhanced artificial lemming algorithm (EALA) for solving complex unmanned aircraft system (UAV) path planning problems in three-dimensional environments. Key improvements include chaotic initialization, adaptive perturbation, and hybrid mutation, enabling a better exploration-exploitation balance and local refinement. Validation on the IEEE CEC2017 and CEC2022 benchmark functions demonstrates the EALA's superior performance, achieving faster convergence and better algorithm performance compared to the standard ALA and 10 other algorithms. When applied to UAV path planning in large- and medium-scale environments with realistic obstacle constraints, the EALA generates Pareto-optimal paths that minimize length, curvature, and computation time while guaranteeing collision avoidance. Benchmark tests and realistic simulations show that the EALA outperforms 10 algorithms. This method is particularly suited for mission-critical applications with strict safety and time constraints.