Faculty Sponsor(s)
Joelle Murray
Subject Area
Physics/Applied Physics
Description
Insect swarms exhibit collective behavior that emerges from the seemingly random motion of insects inside the swarm. A deterministic model developed by Gorbonos et al. [1] describes this adaptive gravitational force alongside a repulsive force that prevents collisions among insects and an elastic potential, providing a framework for understanding their interactions. The elastic potential and corresponding spring constants, identified through studies of laboratory insect swarms, describe oscillations in the insects’ movement and result in an elongation of the swarm along the vertical axis. This model is compared to a stochastic swarming model with weighting to mimic the effect of gravity and the discussed acoustic gravity-like force. The results of this research help to improve our understanding of emergence through the lens of swarms and complexity.
Recommended Citation
Saathoff, Mikaila M., "A Comparative Analysis of Deterministic and Stochastic Models of Insect Swarms" (2025). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 26.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2025/all/26
A Comparative Analysis of Deterministic and Stochastic Models of Insect Swarms
Insect swarms exhibit collective behavior that emerges from the seemingly random motion of insects inside the swarm. A deterministic model developed by Gorbonos et al. [1] describes this adaptive gravitational force alongside a repulsive force that prevents collisions among insects and an elastic potential, providing a framework for understanding their interactions. The elastic potential and corresponding spring constants, identified through studies of laboratory insect swarms, describe oscillations in the insects’ movement and result in an elongation of the swarm along the vertical axis. This model is compared to a stochastic swarming model with weighting to mimic the effect of gravity and the discussed acoustic gravity-like force. The results of this research help to improve our understanding of emergence through the lens of swarms and complexity.
