The Rules of the Swarm 166
Hugh Pickens writes "Researchers are starting to discover the simple rules that allow swarms of thousands of relatively simple animals to form a collective brain able to make decisions and move like a single organism. To get a sense of swarms, Dr. Iain Couzin, a mathematical biologist at the Collective Animal Behaviour Laboratory at Princeton University, builds computer models of virtual swarms with thousands of individual agents that he can program to follow a few simple rules. Among the findings are that swarm behavior has patterns common to many different species, that just as liquid water can suddenly begin to boil, swarm behavior can also change abruptly in character, and that just a few leaders can guide a swarm effectively by creating a bias in the swarm's movement that steers it in a particular direction. The rules of the swarm may also apply to the cells inside our bodies and researchers are working with cancer biologists to discover the rules by which cancer cells work together to build tumors or migrate through tissues. Even brain cells may follow the same rules for collective behavior seen in locusts or fish. "How does your brain take this information and come to a collective decision about what you're seeing?" Dr. Couzin says. The answer, he suspects, may lie in our inner swarm."
I live for the swarm (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I live for the swarm (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
If all the Terrans you're going to have are in the first command center and just get "trained" by the barracks, how come you can hit the psi limit even after getting a hundred marines killed?
Re: (Score:1, Funny)
Re: (Score:1)
Btw this article is idiotic. Cancer cells use principles of chemistry to move. Swarms used intelligent neural networks aka millions of neuron cells, not one cell. There's absolutely no corrolation in how each works beyond pure coincidence. They just added that BS to cover the fact that their research has no purpose at the moment. I hate people who study something with no purpose other than t
Re: (Score:2)
Cancer cells use principles of chemistry to move. Swarms used intelligent neural networks aka millions of neuron cells, not one cell. There's absolutely no corrolation in how each works beyond pure coincidence.
Then you don't get it. In either case, you have a population of cells or organisms with some sort of rudimentary communication ability able to perform interesting large scale behavior. All you need in your component units is some sort of movement and communication, then you can have swarming behavior.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
There is a new overmind growing on char
News at 11
Strength is irrelevent (Score:3, Funny)
C'est la vie (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure swarms have been around longer.
I can see how this research might remind one of 'life', but that does not mean they are the same. A notable difference being, for example, that the game of 'life' says fuck-all about how swarms of higher animals behave.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Worst research ever (Score:2)
If we are, this research sure isn't going to help. The same observations could be made by watching any given swarm for about 2 minutes.
it's funny because it's true (Score:5, Funny)
Strangely enough, it also explains republican voting habits.
Re: (Score:1, Interesting)
Jeebus. Just shut up. The fact is that MOST people vote for whomever is offering them what they want, be it welfare or bombing some turd-world country. The few rational, enlightened individuals who are NOT bent on exploiting the mob tendencies of the voting bloc for either party (if you think Democratic or Repub
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:1)
Re:it's funny because it's true (Score:5, Funny)
"Ohh! Shiny gizmo!"
*BZZZZT*
"....what do you think happened to him?"
"who cares? look at the shiny gizmo!"
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
For our next trick, we will quote Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern as principles of honesty and integrity in reporting.
Group think is really a misnomer. Group think is really a large bunch of individuals not thinking (or thinking at a minimal level). So, republicans, democrats, libertarians, religious assemblies, whatever, is just minimal thinking individuals participating in groups guided by a few individuals in swarm behavior. It really does make so much sense this way. It has almost always worked when
Re:it's funny because it's true (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
More Human than Human (Score:1)
Gaia? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
"[...] look, see those birds? At some point a program was written to govern them. A program was written to watch over the trees, and the wind, the sunrise, and sunset." - The Oracle.
Probably not a program as we know it, but maybe a spirit that governs the swarms.
How about Swarm? (Score:2)
Also, on the lines of another thread up here... the Republicans.
I don't think this says so much about the republican party, as it says something about the validity of democracy as a basis for government. Not that I think a tyrant is any more valid -- I just sometimes don't see a difference between a tyrant who rules by force, and a tyrant who persuades tons of people to vote for him (via swarm be
Just like fractals (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
First rule of the swarm (Score:3, Funny)
Second Rule of the Swarm (Score:1)
I'm sure in some deep, dark basement (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Wouldn't that be more like "WE told ya so".
I think the acient chinese may have been onto it.. (Score:1, Interesting)
Not actually. (Score:2)
Collectively, of course (Score:2)
Would it be redundant to say 'slashdot swarm effect?
But seriously --- hunger, fright, spawning, yawning, roosting, cheering, migrating, hibernating, buying lotto tickets...you can't have a 'crowd' effect without a crowd, so discovering there is such a thing seems a bit like finding a bullet hole and then inventing the gun. All sounds a bit medieval if you ask me.
I just want to know where the on/off switch is so I can control it...
Re: (Score:1, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly... Ok if I quote you? As a group, I mean.
Now, everybody don't move - I want a picture of this one. Is everybody not ready?
Re:Collectively, of course (Score:4, Insightful)
A swarm has no overlord!
Re: (Score:2)
Are you with us?
The Rules of THE SWARM (Score:4, Funny)
But in case you do... (Score:2)
in b4 "what the hell is this", -1 Offtopic, etc. =)
Re: (Score:2)
Rules of the Swarm (Score:5, Funny)
A swarm is a collection of Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creatures that acts as a single creature. A swarm has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A swarm has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A swarm makes saving throws as a single creature. A single swarm occupies a square (if it is made up of nonflying creatures) or a cube (of flying creatures) 10 feet on a side, but its reach is 0 feet, like its component creatures. In order to attack, it moves into an opponent's space, which provokes an attack of opportunity. It can occupy the same space as a creature of any size, since it crawls all over its prey. A swarm can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the swarm provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A swarm can move through cracks or holes large enough for its component creatures.
A swarm of Tiny creatures consists of 300 nonflying creatures or 1,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Diminutive creatures consists of 1,500 nonflying creatures or 5,000 flying creatures. A swarm of Fine creatures consists of 10,000 creatures, whether they are flying or not. Swarms of nonflying creatures include many more creatures than could normally fit in a 10-foot square based on their normal space, because creatures in a swarm are packed tightly together and generally crawl over each other and their prey when moving or attacking. Larger swarms are represented by multiples of single swarms. The area occupied by a large swarm is completely shapeable, though the swarm usually remains in contiguous squares.
Traits
A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or lower causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
A swarm is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate), with the exception of mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects) if the swarm has an Intelligence score and a hive mind. A swarm takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area, such as splash weapons and many evocation spells.
Swarms made up of Diminutive or Fine creatures are susceptible to high winds such as that created by a gust of wind spell. For purposes of determining the effects of wind on a swarm, treat the swarm as a creature of the same size as its constituent creatures. A swarm rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage becomes disorganized and dispersed, and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.
Swarm HD Swarm
Base Damage
1-5 1d6
6-10 2d6
11-15 3d6
16-20 4d6
21 or more 5d6
Swarm Attack
Creatures with the swarm subtype don't make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. Swarm attacks are not subject to a miss chance for concealment or cover. A swarm's statistics block has "swarm" in the Attack and Full Attack entries, with no attack bonus given. The amount of damage a swarm deals is based on its Hit Dice, as shown in the table.
A swarm's attacks are nonmagical, unless the swarm's description states otherwise. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a swarm attack's damage to 0, being incorporeal, and other special abilities usually give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to damage from a swarm. Some swarms
The Rules of the Swarm... on slashdot. (Score:5, Insightful)
The article is a popular science article, but addresses this, more interesting, question much more than the summary. They discuss some of the rules involved in specific situations (ants), and even look at "human swarms" (although that bit is a little cheesy). There is no general theory posited about how to make these rule sets though, apart from trial and error (in simulation if you can). They say that the researchers are starting to see patterns, but don't talk about what those patterns are - pity really, as that would have been very interesting.
Re: (Score:2)
Hackers = L. Ron Hubbard, whoever wrote the Bible, the Torah, etc.
Re: (Score:2)
Programs running on humans = religion. Hackers = L. Ron Hubbard, whoever wrote the Bible, the Torah, etc.
My inner swarm is whispering to me that 1992 called and wants its mass-market paperback scifi novel premise back.
Re: (Score:2)
Fixed (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
- Lenin
- McCarthy
You know, to people from some parts the ritual of swearing an oath of allegiance to a flag is a quite sinister form of programming. Who's hacking who there? That's right, nobody. It's swarm behaviour to enforce swarm cohesion.
We all are programmed to take some things for granted, on which we base our interpretation of the world outside ourselves. Travel is great because interacting with others exposes many of your own "program
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
The crowd is untruth.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Nice game. Check out glSwarm [sourceforge.net]. I always thought it would be fun to make a game based on these ideas.
Re: (Score:2)
Cheap shot: (Score:2)
Which explains AOL!
Re: (Score:1)
I apologize!
Stand Alone Complex? (Score:3, Interesting)
Wow, did this remind anyone else somewhat of Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex [wikipedia.org] and the Laughing Man and Individual Eleven cases? Plus there is plenty of discussion throughout the series about how subtle influence by a select few can affect the whole of society, unnoticed. I know it's a bit different, but it's kind of unreal to be hearing about this in the news after having only just recently watched the two seasons of Stand Alone Complex episodes...
Fresh Articles Please! (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
It was featured yesterday in the New York Times. I believe there was something new in it.
And if you're referring to analysis of swarm behavior, well, that's been around for a long time.
*cough*cough* (Score:3)
Not to mention my inner hippy.
Re: (Score:2)
Explain to me how are educated free-will people doing in foreign countries killing other human beings, if it's not the swarm/hive programming telling them it's the right thing to do.
algorithms (Score:5, Informative)
Locusts and cannibalism (Score:5, Interesting)
In any case, once they start eating each other, the locusts start trying to chase the locusts in front of them, while simultaneously avoiding the locusts behind them trying to eat them. The emergent behavior is that the entire swarm moves as a mass until a new area is found where salt and protein supplies are plentiful enough to cause them to switch out of cannibalism-mode. This presumably has a number of ramification on how to control migration of locust swarms, which are an immense destroyer of food resources in the developing world.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure if he's shown this for locusts, but in his talk he was talking about schools of fish who have the now-standard "attract when far away, repel when close" swarming behavior. When such schools are large enough, you only need a relatively few members applying an additional bias to cause the entire swarm to mov
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
These securities were then marketed and sold all over the place like hotcakes, causing an even greater market for bad mortgages, kickbacks and fraud in the mortgage brokering business, and especially home appraisal business
Swarm simulations? (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Certainly no new work in artificial life simulation has been done in the last 21 years, and it's not possible that this has been applied to something new. Certainly not publishable [princeton.edu], especially not in respected publications like Science [princeton.edu] or Nature [princeton.edu] or Nature [princeton.edu].
... or IEEE Conference on Decision and Control [princeton.edu]... OK that one was a shameless plug for my own paper. But the others aren't.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
(Your high user number indicates you won't get that reference, either.)
Boids (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
The rules are quite similar, but the treatment is different. Boids was an artificial life simulation experiment. The stuff TFA r
leaders and bias in swarm? Marketers. (Score:5, Funny)
and that just a few leaders can guide a swarm effectively by creating a bias in the swarm's movement that steers it in a particular direction.
In human populations, we call those marketers.
Re:leaders and bias in swarm? Inventors (Score:2)
Imagine that at any given moment, each element of the swarm has:
1) A "desire" to behave in a unique way, with some probability;
2) The ability to persuade some number of nearby elements to follow it, also with a probability.
Might be an interesting simulation problem. The hypothetical link with reality is analogous to human societies; some the desire and persuasive power (and are therefore opinion leaders). And at various times in history, such people have moved entire societies in unexpe
Re: (Score:2)
Sounds like Finite Automata (Score:2)
This guy should get together with Mr. Wolfram. It sounds like these ideas overlap a lot with the stuff in his (highly recommded) "A New Kind of Science": http://www.wolframscience.com/ [wolframscience.com]
obligatory quote (Score:1)
I welcome our Next Tenants [everything2.com]... whatever.
Think of ourselves as a well succeeded cluster of cells. Think of the cell as a collection of proto-organisms.
We are an undefined life form. Trying to get out of the shell.
Mankind, shoal. Swarm, individual.
Collective consciousness is far beyond particular will.
uh huh (Score:1)
probably applies on macro scale too (Score:3, Insightful)
Kids, parentheses and earlier work (Score:2)
Although some of the concepts in TFA are interesting, it is certainly building on ideas that have passed before it.
Much work has been done on emergent behaviour in aggregates of simple organisms, for example the early work of Craig Reynolds [toronto.edu] is a pivotal paper in this area and widely regarded as a key work in this area. When you might ask? 1987 of course. Bonus points that it was done in LISP. (ObXkcd link [xkcd.com]).
Re: (Score:2)
I like this one [xkcd.com], it inspired me to try Lisp.
Re: (Score:2)
starting to discover?? I remember doing a bunch of research on swarm intelligence 10+ years ago. (I always thought ant colonies were the most interesting, but even flying/swimming patterns of bats, birds and fish were still baffling. I even tried implementing this sort of "hive-mentality" into some Robocode [wikipedia.org] bots... but never got anything that really was
Swarmswarmswarmswarm (Score:2)
TFA was very cool though. I'd love to watch a video on this.
Whoa... (Score:2)
these are models... what about experiments? (Score:3, Informative)
Background paper (Score:2, Informative)
the other interesting result is, that the next state of the swarm can depend on states in the past, this leads to spatial memory effect.
popular computer graphics tool for dozen years (Score:2)
They're called... (Score:3, Funny)
Politicians.
Lady of Mazes (Score:2)
swarms can make you money and more (Score:2)
Re:Water never (Score:5, Insightful)