Week Two - Resreach(2)

What is Swarm

Swarm is a collective behavior exhibited by animals of similar size aggregate together. Perhaps milling about the same spot, moving in groups or migrating in same direction.

In Air Swarm of Bee 

School of Fish

Herd of sheep

From the perspective of the mathematical modeller, it is anegergent behavior arising from simple rules that are followed by individuals and does not involve any central coordination.

History of swarm application

Swarm behavior was first simulated on a computer in 1986 with the simulation program boids. This program simulates simpleagents (boids) that are allowed to move according to a set of basic rules. The model was originally designed to mimic the flocking behavior of birds, but it can be applied also to schooling fish and other swarming entities.

In 1997, scenarios involving swarms ware used in some high level war games at the US Army War College.

Two year later (in 1999) the Marine Corps developed a new operational concept called “Urban Swarm” as part of their Urban Warrior program.

This research and experimentation into urban technologies and tactics continued as part of Project Metropolis in 2000.

In 2012, Dragonfly Woman Swarm Project was developed. 

Mathematical Models

Mathematical models
The simplest mathematical models of animal swarms generally represent individual animals as following three rules:

1. Move in the same direction as your neighbours
2. Remain close to your neighbours
3. Avoid collisions with your neighbours

More information visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarming

Swarm UAV

“UAV swarms can interpret what is happening in real time, self-organize and get the job done,” said David Scheidt, a member of the principal professional staff at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory and leading UAV swarm researcher.

"To be considered a swarm, UAVs must communicate with one another to perform tasks as an intelligent group, said Gabriel Santander, Boeing’s Advanced Autonomous Networks program director."

“The real advantage of a swarm or any autonomous vehicle is that it accelerates the speed at which you can respond to things in the world,” Scheidt said. “With more vehicles, you can respond to more things.”

"future swarms are likely to be composed of inexpensive aircraft fitted with a single sensor designed to gather imagery or detect radiation, airborne chemicals or biological agents."

Each UAV in a swarm needs to make decisions rapidly and prioritize tasks.

More information visit: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130612/C4ISR/306120029/Drone-Swarm-Networks-Small-UAVs-Offer-Big-Capabilities