Date of Award

Summer 7-30-2024

Access Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair

Subhradeep Roy

First Committee Member

Bryan Watson

Second Committee Member

Sirish Namilae

College Dean

James W. Gregory

Abstract

Collective behavior refers to the coordinated movements that emerge from simple interactions between individuals within a group. Traditionally, researchers have modeled these interactions assuming individuals can sense their surroundings in all directions, like having eyes all around their heads. While this is a useful simplification, it does not capture the diverse ways animals actually sense the world. In this thesis, we take inspiration from the natural world, particularly from animals like bats and dolphins that use a combination of hearing and sight to navigate their environments. We explore how combining these sensory cues in a three-dimensional space affects the way groups move and behave. Our findings reveal that integrating auditory and visual information allows for more effective group coordination, combining the strengths of both senses. We also look at another fascinating aspect of animal behavior: some species pay attention to areas outside their direct line of movement. Imagine being able to know what is happening behind you while walking forward. We investigate how this kind of `offset' sensing influences group dynamics. For instance, when the sensing field is directed opposite to the movement direction, unique and unexpected group behaviors emerge. Understanding these mechanisms can provide deep insights into the behavior of animal groups and inspire innovative designs for artificial systems, leading to better-coordinated and more efficient robotic swarms.

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