Ants Line Up in Groups

Function

We see lines of ants everywhere, including in gardens and parks. Why do ants line up? Isn’t it strange? Ants follow the same principles previously explained in how schools of fish follow rules, or birds fly in flocks. When looking for food, ants create paths by releasing pheromones, which other ants can follow. This simple function allows an entire group of ants to be able to undertake complex actions. Just as fish and birds follow their own rules for forming groups in order to protect themselves from their natural enemies, ants also follow their own rules of group formation in order to find food. These rules are a type of algorithm: they are procedures undertaken to solve a problem. One prepares for school the next day by doing ones homework, eating dinner, taking a bath, setting out clothes, preparing a book bag, and so on and so forth. As this process is repeated, it becomes a procedure for getting one ready for school, doesn’t it? We can also call this procedure an algorithm for going to school. Algorithms are also used in computer programming so that you can see the webpage that you are looking at now. Using the actions of ants as a model, we can research algorithms that will help us devise better procedures to solve societal problems, such as traffic jams, determining truck routes, and organizing air traffic control.

Functional Classification

Resouce/Energy/Information Collection & Storage:
Location detection
Transfer/Dispose/Circulate:
Movement
Efficiency(Energy Saving, Resource Saving, Light):
Efficient arrangement

Environmental Solution Classification

Related Literature

Dorigo, Marco, and Thomas Stutzle. Ant Colony Optimization. MIT Press, 2004. Bonabeau, Eric, and Christopher Meyer. "Swarm Intelligence: A Whole New Way to Think About Business." Harvard Business Review (May 2001), 106-14.

Technical Application

Manufacturers have utilized the algorithms of ants in order to determine optimal routes for trucks driving a large number of products from multiple production bases to many clients. These discoveries help to reduce the costs involved with transport, including fuel expenses and labor costs.

Products and Services

  • Optimized routes for truck transport.

Type of Business

Proposals of Applied Technology

Just as fish and birds follow their rules of forming groups in order to protect themselves from their natural enemies, ants also follow their own rule of forming a group in order to find food. These rules are called algorithms, referring to the procedures taken in order to solve a problem. The previous day before going to school each day, one does homework, eats dinner, takes a bath, gets ready clothing for the next day, puts writing utensils in a schoolbag, and so on & so forth. This becomes a procedure for the purpose of going to school, doesn’t it? We can also call this procedure an algorithm for going to school. Algorithms were also used in computer programming so that you could see the webpage that you are looking at now. Using the actions of ants as a model, we can research algorithms that will help us devise better procedures to help solve problems in human societies. We can learn how to solve traffic jams, determine truck routes, and plan air traffic control.

Proposals of Applied Industry

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