Optimal design of a robot gripper arm using the chaotic animated oat optimizer

Abstract This study presents a modified version of the Animated Oat Algorithm (AOA), enhanced through the integration of chaotic maps, termed the Chaotic Animated Oat Algorithm (CAOA). Inspired by the seed dispersal mechanisms of the oat plant, AOA offers a population-based metaheuristic framework suitable for complex global optimization tasks. The proposed CAOA was evaluated across four real-world engineering optimization problems: pressure vessel design, bolted rim coupling, gear train cost minimization, and robot gripper arm weight reduction. Results demonstrate that CAOA consistently outperforms traditional and state-of-the-art metaheuristics in terms of solution quality, convergence stability, and robustness, affirming its potential for widespread engineering applications.