Potential of heterogeneity in collective behaviors: A case study on heterogeneous swarms

Daniela Kengyel*, Heiko Hamann, Payam Zahadat, Gerald Radspieler, Franz Wotawa, Thomas Schmickl

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperpeer-review

Abstract

Research in swarm robotics and collective behaviors is often focused on homogeneous swarms. However, heterogeneity in behaviors can be advantageous as we know, for example, from studies on social insects. Our objective is to study the hypothesis that there are potential advantages of heterogeneous swarms over homogeneous swarms in an aggregation scenario inspired by behaviors of juvenile honeybees. Even without task switching – that is, with predefined, static roles for certain swarm fractions – we find in our case study that heterogeneous swarms can outperform homogeneous swarms for a predetermined set of basic behaviors. We use methods of evolutionary computation to define behaviors imitating those found in honeybees (random walkers, wall followers, goal finders, immobile agents) and also to find well-adapted swarm fractions of different predetermined behaviors. Our results show that nontrivial distributions of behaviors give better aggregation performance.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPRIMA 2015
Subtitle of host publicationPrinciples and Practice of Multi-Agent Systems - 18th International Conference, Proceedings
EditorsPaolo Torroni, Andrea Omicini, Jane Hsu, Qingliang Chen, Paolo Torroni, Andrea Omicini, Jane Hsu, Qingliang Chen, Serena Villata, Serena Villata
PublisherSpringer-Verlag Italia
Pages201-217
Number of pages17
ISBN (Print)9783319255231, 9783319255231
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2015
Event18th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Multi-Agent Systems, PRIMA 2015 - Bertinoro, Italy
Duration: 26 Oct 201530 Oct 2015

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume9387
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference18th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Multi-Agent Systems, PRIMA 2015
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityBertinoro
Period26/10/1530/10/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • Computer Science(all)

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