Army ants in Central and South America have a fascinating ability to construct complex bridges using their own bodies. This remarkable teamwork is guided by a simple algorithm, according to a recent study. The ants adjust their positions based on the number of their comrades walking over them, which helps to optimise the structure of the bridge.
Initially, a few ants link together, forming the start of a bridge. As more ants walk across, the bridge expands, with ants adding themselves where needed. This process continues until the traffic over the bridge decreases, at which point ants start to detach themselves and the bridge begins to shrink.
This algorithm is not centrally controlled but is a result of individual ants reacting to local stimuli. It’s an example of swarm intelligence, where simple creatures following simple rules can create complex structures. This system is highly efficient, ensuring the bridge is just large enough to meet demand, but not so large that it wastes resources.
The understanding of this ant algorithm could have implications for human engineering, particularly in the development of self-assembling structures or robots. The study offers exciting potential for future research and applications.
Go to source article: https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-simple-algorithm-that-ants-use-to-build-bridges-20180226/