Ants, despite lacking a central authority, are surprisingly efficient at creating networks, according to a study from Stanford University. This is due to their ability to adapt to changing conditions and their use of decentralised control. The study found that ants, unlike humans, do not rely on leaders or pre-existing plans to build their networks. Instead, they use simple rules and local interactions.
These findings could have implications for human network design, particularly in areas like telecommunications and transportation. The research indicates that decentralised control can lead to more efficient and robust networks. For instance, if a part of an ant’s path is blocked, they can quickly find an alternative route, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
The researchers used computer simulations to study the behaviour of Argentine ants. They found that the ants use a technique called ‘stigmergy’, where the behaviour of an individual is influenced by the traces left by others. This allows them to create efficient paths without any central coordination.
The study also found that ants can optimise their paths over time by strengthening the most efficient routes and abandoning less efficient ones. This is known as ‘reinforcement learning’ and is another factor contributing to their efficient network creation.
Overall, the study suggests that there is much to learn from ants about efficient network design and decentralisation.
Go to source article: http://phys.org/news/2011-02-leader-less-ants-super-efficient-networks.html#nRlv