Projects archive / Modelling Navigation and Landmarking in Ants

Code: antnavigationKeer2005 Title: Modelling Navigation and Landmarking in Ants Authors: Daniel Keer, (Extends Model by) Kok Cheng Tan Date: 1-Apr-2005 Type: model Funding: 3YP - Undergraduate third year project Short description: Tkeden model of visual navigation in ants. EM Technologies: tkeden, %eden, %scout, %donald Keywords: simulation, navigation, AI empublic references: EMpress references: Web site references: Previous locations:

This project represents an attempt to model some of the various ways ants navigate, particularly their visual navigation and use of landmarks. As the project report explains, Empirical Modelling ideas were used to try and develop a lifelike pattern of ant behaviour.

The model itself shows a top-down view of the ant and the landscape, as well as a representation of the senses available to the ant. The landscape can be modified by the user to contain different coloured objects (landmarks). As the ant moves through the landscape, the ant's sensory information changes appropriately to reflect the surroundings.

The AI included in the model uses these modelled senses to navigate between the nest and the food. This involves a form of pattern matching between what the ant can currently see and 'snapshots' of desirable locations that the ant has recorded on its previous travels.

Though the AI developed in the project is far from comprehensive, it can produce some interesting and complex behaviours. Some of these behaviours can be quickly 'demo-ed' using saved scenarios in the model; the 'quick guide to using the model' included with the code explains how to do this.

empublic system initially created by Ashley Ward with assistance from Chris Roe and Meurig Beynon.