scholarly journals When less is more: Robot swarms adapt better to changes with constrained communication

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (56) ◽  
pp. eabf1416
Author(s):  
Mohamed S. Talamali ◽  
Arindam Saha ◽  
James A. R. Marshall ◽  
Andreagiovanni Reina
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Mean Field ◽  
Voter Model ◽  
Communication Range ◽  
Less Is More ◽  
Robot Swarm ◽  
Swarm Dynamics ◽  
Robot Swarms ◽  
Communication Links ◽  
The Individual

To effectively perform collective monitoring of dynamic environments, a robot swarm needs to adapt to changes by processing the latest information and discarding outdated beliefs. We show that in a swarm composed of robots relying on local sensing, adaptation is better achieved if the robots have a shorter rather than longer communication range. This result is in contrast with the widespread belief that more communication links always improve the information exchange on a network. We tasked robots with reaching agreement on the best option currently available in their operating environment. We propose a variety of behaviors composed of reactive rules to process environmental and social information. Our study focuses on simple behaviors based on the voter model—a well-known minimal protocol to regulate social interactions—that can be implemented in minimalistic machines. Although different from each other, all behaviors confirm the general result: The ability of the swarm to adapt improves when robots have fewer communication links. The average number of links per robot reduces when the individual communication range or the robot density decreases. The analysis of the swarm dynamics via mean-field models suggests that our results generalize to other systems based on the voter model. Model predictions are confirmed by results of multiagent simulations and experiments with 50 Kilobot robots. Limiting the communication to a local neighborhood is a cheap decentralized solution to allow robot swarms to adapt to previously unknown information that is locally observed by a minority of the robots.

scholarly journals Scale-Free Features in Collective Robot Foraging

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (13) ◽  
pp. 2667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilja Rausch ◽  
Yara Khaluf ◽  
Pieter Simoens
Keyword(s):  
Resting State ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Complex Task ◽  
Characteristic Scale ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Scale Free ◽  
Robot Swarms ◽  
Communication Links ◽  
Collective Foraging

In many complex systems observed in nature, properties such as scalability, adaptivity, or rapid information exchange are often accompanied by the presence of features that are scale-free, i.e., that have no characteristic scale. Following this observation, we investigate the existence of scale-free features in artificial collective systems using simulated robot swarms. We implement a large-scale swarm performing the complex task of collective foraging, and demonstrate that several space and time features of the simulated swarm—such as number of communication links or time spent in resting state—spontaneously approach the scale-free property with moderate to strong statistical plausibility. Furthermore, we report strong correlations between the latter observation and swarm performance in terms of the number of retrieved items.

scholarly journals Concurrent design of control software and configuration of hardware for robot swarms under economic constraints

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Salman ◽  
Antoine Ligot ◽  
Mauro Birattari
Keyword(s):  
Automatic Design ◽  
Control Software ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Robot Swarm ◽  
Software Configuration ◽  
Robot Swarms ◽  
Battery Capacity ◽  
Finite State ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Economic Constraints

Designing a robot swarm is challenging due to its self-organized and distributed nature: complex relations exist between the behavior of the individual robots and the collective behavior that results from their interactions. In this paper, we study the concurrent automatic design of control software and the automatic configuration of the hardware of robot swarms. We introduce Waffle, a new instance of the AutoMoDe family of automatic design methods that produces control software in the form of a probabilistic finite state machine, configures the robot hardware, and selects the number of robots in the swarm. We test Waffle under economic constraints on the total monetary budget available and on the battery capacity of each individual robot comprised in the swarm. Experimental results obtained via realistic computer-based simulation on three collective missions indicate that different missions require different hardware and software configuration, and that Waffle is able to produce effective and meaningful solutions under all the experimental conditions considered.

scholarly journals Why “Less is More” in Non-Financial Reporting Initiatives: Concrete Steps Towards Supporting Sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Tsagas ◽  
Charlotte Villiers
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Less Is More ◽  
Csr Reporting ◽  
Corporate Reporting ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Key Aspects

AbstractCalls are repeatedly made on corporations to respond to the challenges facing the planet from a sustainable development perspective and governments take solace in the idea that corporations' transparency on their corporate activity in relation to sustainability through voluntary reporting is adequately addressing the problem. In practice, however, reporting is failing to deliver truly sustainable results. The article considers the following questions: how does the varied reporting landscape in the field of non-financial reporting impede the objectives of fostering corporations' sustainable practices and which initiative, among the options available, may best meet the sustainability objectives after a decluttering of the landscape takes place?The article argues that the varied corporate reporting landscape constitutes a key obstacle to fostering sustainable corporate behaviour, insofar as the flexible and please all approach followed in the context of corporate sustainability reporting offers little to no real incentive to companies to behave more sustainably and ultimately pleases none in the long run. The case made is that “less is more” in non-financial reporting initiatives and hence the article calls for a revision of key aspects of the European Non-Financial Reporting Directive, which, as is argued, is more likely to achieve the furtherance of sustainable corporate behaviour. Although the different reporting requirements offer the benefits of focussing on different corporate goals and activities, targeting different audiences and allowing for a level of flexibility that respects the individual risks to sustainability associated with each industry, the end result is a landscape that lacks overall consistency and comparability of measurements and accountabilities, making accountability more, rather than less, difficult to achieve.The article acknowledges the existence of several variances relating to the notion of sustainability per se, which continues to remain a contested concept and variances between companies and industries in relation to how each is operating sustainably or unsustainably respectively. Such variances have so far inhibited the legislator from easily outlining through tailored legislation the individual risks to global sustainability in an all-encompassing manner. The end product is a chaotic system of financial reporting, CSR reporting, non-financial reporting and integrated reporting and little progress to increase comparability and credibility in order for companies to be held accountable and to behave in ways that do not harm the planet. A “clean up” of the varied initiatives in the terrain of non-financial reporting is recommended.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Information Flow between Ghana Stock Market Index and Its Constituents Using Transfer Entropy

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Prince Mensah Osei ◽  
Anokye M. Adam
Keyword(s):  
Stock Market ◽  
Information Flow ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Transfer Entropy ◽  
Stock Market Index ◽  
Insurance Sector ◽  
Market Index ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Effective Transfer

We quantify the strength and the directionality of information transfer between the Ghana stock market index and its component stocks as well as observe the same among the individual stocks on the market using transfer entropy. The information flow between the market index and its components and among individual stocks is measured by the effective transfer entropy of the daily logarithm returns generated from the daily market index and stock prices of 32 stocks ranging from 2nd January 2009 to 16th February 2018. We find a bidirectional and unidirectional flow of information between the GSE index and its component stocks, and the stocks dominate the information exchange. Among the individual stocks, SCB is the most active stock in the information exchange as it is the stock that receives the highest amount of information, but the most informative source is EGL (an insurance company) that has the highest net information outflow while the most information sink is PBC that has the highest net information inflow. We further categorize the stocks into 9 stock market sectors and find the insurance sector to be the largest source of information which confirms our earlier findings. Surprisingly, the oil and gas sector is the information sink. Our results confirm the fact that other sectors including oil and gas mitigate their risk exposures through insurance companies and are always expectant of information originating from the insurance sector in relation to regulatory compliance issues. It is our firm conviction that this study would allow stakeholders of the market to make informed buy, sell, or hold decisions.

Health informatics: information and communication

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Informatics ◽  
Mass Communication ◽  
Family Background ◽  
Past History ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Individual

In health care, the word ‘communication’ covers a wide range of interactions, including interpersonal communication, communication technology, medical education, health policy and mass communication. It takes many forms, from a brief informal talk between colleagues to formalised written documents between professionals. The essence of this verbal and written communication is the sharing of information. To make our information exchange more useful and to give it more meaning, the information communicated needs an appropriate framework. For example, the meaning of the diagnosis ‘schizophrenia’ is greatly enhanced by knowledge of the individual patient within the context (the framework) of his or her past history and family background.

DYNAMICS WITH CO-EVOLUTION OF INDIVIDUAL INCLINATION AND OPINION

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (01) ◽  
pp. 51-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
FEI XIONG ◽  
YUN LIU ◽  
ZHENJIANG ZHANG
Keyword(s):  
Opinion Dynamics ◽  
Spin Systems ◽  
Voter Model ◽  
Formation Model ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Final State ◽  
Memory Length ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Individual

Based on the voter model, we present a new opinion formation model which takes into account the evolution of both opinions and individual inclinations. A memory-based inclination is developed gradually during the process of social interaction; however, if the individual inclination gets strong enough, it will react to opinion dynamics. We assume that an individual inclination increases with the number of times the individual has held its most frequent opinion in the past interactions. As a result of inclination choices the transition rate following neighbors decreases, thus slowing down the microscopic dynamics. Analytical and simulation results indicate the system under the action of opinion inclinations evolves to a more polarized state for average opinion. The appearance of extremists holding the minority opinion is observed in the final state, where one opinion predominates. It is also found that the stable opinion and relaxation time depend on network topology and memory length. Moreover, this model is not only valid to the voter model, but can also be applied to other spin systems.

Immune-inspired search strategies for robot swarms

Robotica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1791-1810 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Fricke ◽  
J. P. Hecker ◽  
J. L. Cannon ◽  
M. E. Moses
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Fractal Dimension ◽  
Immune System ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Search Efficiency ◽  
Cell Search ◽  
Robot Swarm ◽  
Robot Swarms ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARYDetection of targets distributed randomly in space is a task common to both robotic and biological systems. Lévy search has previously been used to characterize T cell search in the immune system. We use a robot swarm to evaluate the effectiveness of a Lévy search strategy and map the relationship between search parameters and target configurations. We show that the fractal dimension of the Lévy search which optimizes search efficiency depends strongly on the distribution of targets but only weakly on the number of agents involved in search. Lévy search can therefore be tuned to the target configuration while also being scalable. Implementing search behaviors observed in T cells in a robot swarm provides an effective, adaptable, and scalable swarm robotic search strategy. Additionally, the adaptability and scalability of Lévy search may explain why Lévy-like movement has been observed in T cells in multiple immunological contexts.

A neural network model of the effects of entrenchment and memory development on grammatical gender learning

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEREK MONNER ◽  
KAREN VATZ ◽  
GIOVANNA MORINI ◽  
SO-ONE HWANG ◽  
ROBERT DeKEYSER
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Network Models ◽  
Memory Development ◽  
Neural Network Models ◽  
Gender Assignment ◽  
Less Is More ◽  
Onset Delays ◽  
The Individual

To investigate potential causes of L2 performance deficits that correlate with age of onset, we use a computational model to explore the individual contributions of L1 entrenchment and aspects of memory development. Since development and L1 entrenchment almost invariably coincide, studying them independently is seldom possible in humans. To avoid this confound, we study neural network models that learn to solve gender assignment and agreement tasks in Spanish and French. We model the learner as a collection of recurrent cell assemblies that subserve working memory and are facilitated by trainable long-term connections. Varying the time-course over which assemblies and connections are added allows us to compare small, growing, child-like networks to fixed-size adult-like ones. Networks undergo variable-length exposure to L1 before L2 onset to control the amount of L1 entrenchment. This model, by allowing us independent control of both variables, lends us a novel glimpse of all sides of their interaction and affords a rare test of the less-is-more hypothesis. Network comparisons suggest that final L2 proficiency declines as L2 onset delays increase relative to L1, implicating an L1 entrenchment effect. However, aspects of memory development during learning play a key role in mitigating these impairments, lending support to less-is-more as a contributor to sensitive periods.

Participatory strategies for information exchange

1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Francis ◽  
James King ◽  
Jerry DeWitt ◽  
James Bushnell ◽  
Leo Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Sound Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Biological Interactions ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Farm ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

AbstractComplexity and rapid change in the agricultural industry are pushing us toward more participatory systems of information development and exchange. These changes are driven by a rapidly evolving information environment, with a multiplicity of sources and different clients, and by a technological revolution in communications equipment. At the same time, scientists and farmers are becoming increasingly aware of the complex biological interactions that occur in cropping systems and how these are connected with the overall ecosystem. We are expanding our time and space frame of reference. To address tomorrow's challenges, it will be important to blend the efforts in research and extension, to include farmers as full participants in the planning, execution, and interpretation of experiments, to explore new directions such as model farms and master farmers, and to develop creative educational approaches to encourage practical problem solving. Collaborative efforts of universities, industry, farmer groups, and environmental organizations will be needed to fully empower the individual farm manager to make rational and environmentally sound production decisions in the future.

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