Attraction, Dynamics, and Phase Transitions in Fire Ant Tower-Building

摘要: Many insect species, and even some vertebrates, assemble their bodies to form multi-functional materials that combine sensing, computation, actuation. The tower-building behavior of red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, presents a key example this phenomenon collective construction. While biological studies construction focus on behavioral assays measure the dynamics formation swarm robotics developing hardware can interact, algorithms for designing such aggregations have been mostly overlooked. We address gap by formulating an agent-based model with set rules incorporate local sensing neighboring agents. find attractive force makes tower building possible. Next, we explore trade-offs between attraction random motion characterize phase transition process. Lastly, provide optimization tool may be used design towers specific shapes, mechanical loads, dynamical properties as stability mobility center mass.