1.1) Schooling And Flocking: A Classic Example
Schooling and flocking behaviour is probably the classic example of agent-based modelling. The fascination with this example is, how from an simple set of individual rules complex but realistic group behaviour emerges (Aoki, 1981; Reynolds, 1987). To make “Boids” look like a flock and avoid collisions, they must:
- Swim towards their neighbour
- Align their direction with neighbour
- Maintain a separation distance
See an example of a few thousand starlings in flight below:
See an example of an realistic but simulated fish school below: