Herself’s Artificial Intelligence

The scientists present five models describing how animals may receive communication signals, and discuss how signal reception affects the formation of different patterns, both moving and stationary. In doing so, the scientists’ model not only explains five known group patterns, but also reveals five previously unknown patterns. The scientists also suggest that many more exist.“These patterns were obtained through numerical simulations, and they are particularly important from a mathematical point of view,” Eftimie said. “These types of patterns were not observed with previous mathematical models. That is why this model is so important: by displaying so many patterns, some of them already observed in nature, it actually opens a door to further understanding what causes these patterns.” [ read more Animal communication plays an important role in patter formation]

Instead of building the rules for swarms using information from the guy in front, these models use different information from different sources. Some use information from animals in front and behind, some just from the front, some just from behind, some from animals beside themselves. By taking in information from differently positioned other animals different flocking behavior could be obtained.

Some of these patterns are classical, such as stationary pulses, traveling waves, ripples, or traveling trains. However, most of the patterns have not been reported previously. We call these patterns zigzag pulses, semizigzag pulses, breathers, traveling breathers, and feathers.

Paper:
Complex spatial group patterns result from different animal communication mechanisms