Alignment (behavior)
Alignment ( Engl. Alignment : Alignment) is a behavior that in natural flocks occurs. An individual who shows this behavior adapts his direction of movement to the direction of movement of his neighbors.
Scientists such as Craig Reynolds , who analyzed natural swarm behavior in order to model it on the computer , came to the conclusion that the phenomenon can be described by three basic rules that are observed by every individual and which generate emergent behavior at the swarm level :
- Move towards the center of those you see around you ( cohesion ).
- Move away as soon as someone comes too close to you ( separation ).
- Move in roughly the same direction as your neighbors (alignment).
The phenomenon that a swarm can quickly and compactly rearrange itself after an attack by an enemy is based on the alignment behavior of the individuals. Each individual reacts to changes in direction of the neighbors. Due to the speed of orientation, which is made possible by the lateral line organ of the fish, z. B. Swarms of army swarms every change of direction as a unit, no matter how often they are attacked by hunting dolphins.
Influences
The limited brain capacities and vision limit the alignment behavior of an individual who can only focus on a certain number of their neighbors.
Different alignment behavior
The alignment behavior varies from hive animal to hive animal; it is more important for some species than for others. It is of vital importance for all the swarms that have a dynamic movement pattern, as they have to quickly reorient themselves as a unit. B. Shoals of herring that have to relentlessly rearrange themselves while they are hunted by orcas.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Craig Reynolds: Boids
- ^ South German knowledge . 04, 2008, p. 10.
- ↑ hunted schools of herring