pheromone (in varying quantities) on the ground, thus marking the path it followed by a trail of this substance. While an isolated ant moves essentially at random, an ant encountering a previously laid trail can detect it and decide with high probability to follow it, thus reinforcing the trail with its own

supports a population of simple mobile agents with behaviours modelled on the trail laying abilities of ants. The ants move across the network between randomly chosen pairs of nodes; as they move they deposit simulated pheromones as a function of their distance from their source node, and the congestion

Abstract. Simulated annealing — moving from a tractable distribution to a distribution of interest via a sequence of intermediate distributions — has traditionally been used as an inexact method of handling isolated modes in Markov chain samplers. Here, it is shown how one can use the Markov chain

individual minds and brains in isolation. However, in recent years, major advances have been made by investigating perception and action in social context. In this article we outline how studies on joint attention, action observation, task sharing, action coordination and agency contribute

In several species of ants, workers cooperate to retrieve large prey. Usually, one ant finds a prey item, tries to move it, and, when unsuccessful for some time, recruits nestmates through direct contact or chemical marking. When a group of ants tries to move large prey, the ants change position

Abstract. The scientific research in the area of computational mechanisms for trust and reputation in virtual societies is a recent discipline oriented to increase the reli-ability and performance of electronic communities. Computer science has moved from the paradigm of isolated machines

What are the barriers that separate nations? While recent work provides intriguing clues, we have remarkably little concrete evidence as to the nature, size, and shape of barriers. This paper offers direct and indirect evidence on trade barriers, moving us toward a comprehensive geography of trade

Abstract—Ants and other insects are known to use chemicals called pheromones for various communication and coordination tasks. In this paper, we investigate the ability of a group of robots, that communicate by leaving traces, to perform the task of cleaning the floor of an un-mapped building

The automaton known as ‘Langton’s ant ’ exhibits a dynamical transition from a disordered phase to an ordered phase where the particle dynamics (the ant) produces a regular periodic pattern (called ‘highway’). Despite the simplicity of its basic algorithm, Langton’s ant has remained a puzzle

then be followed by other ants in the colony. When choosing their way through the possible path routes, ants smell the deposited pheromone and tend to follow those paths marked by stronger pheromone concentrations. Therefore, while an isolated ant moves essentially at random, an ant encountering a previously