A. Nagarajan, S. Mukherjee, et al.
Journal of Applied Mechanics, Transactions ASME
This paper reports on a system where very simple, noncommunicating mobile agents in a cellular (lattice) environment use purely local rules to construct connected structures from initially randomly distributed building blocks. We study the effect of block density on the final structure, demonstrating a percolationlike phase transition: Low block densities lead to the formation of small, disconnected structures but a single connected structure emerges abruptly beyond a critical density. The empirical study of the structure at the transition point shows scaling behavior, providing strong evidence for criticality. We also demonstrate that a simple change of rules can completely change the phase-transition effect. The results have implications for the self-organized construction of complex structures by swarms. © 2003 The American Physical Society.
A. Nagarajan, S. Mukherjee, et al.
Journal of Applied Mechanics, Transactions ASME
J.V. Harzer, B. Hillebrands, et al.
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Robert W. Keyes
Physical Review B
Elizabeth A. Sholler, Frederick M. Meyer, et al.
SPIE AeroSense 1997