The term swarm behavior designates the behavior of fish to unite to birds and insects to aggregations of animals of usually same size and arrangement. Often they move in a direction. Typical swarm animals are herring and Krill. However also mixing swarms can form from animals of different kind and size.

The physiological basis, which makes it for the individuals possible swarm to move in the observable is assumed in the mirror neurons.

Interesting results brought computer simulations of swarms, which were for the first time really modelled 1986 by Craig Reynolds. The principle is based on three rules, which consider the individual agents (individuals/Boids):

1. Move you toward the center of those, which you see in your surrounding field.
2. Move you away, as soon as you someone comes too close.
3. Move you in approximately in the same direction as your neighbours.

As consequence of these rules on individual level a total structure results, i.e. the swarm. One speaks of Emergenz.

See also

Swarm fish, swarm intelligence, moving grasshoppers, particle system

Related links

• http://www.red3d.com/cwr/boids/ Craig Reynolds' side too Boids on the left of, applet, among other things (English)

Articles in category "Swarm behavior"

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