Flocking

From GDWiki

Flocking behavior is an emergent behavior technique used by AI and animation systems to provide compelling effects.

See also Flocking behavior at Wikipedia.

[edit] Basic rules

Flocking behavior can be implemented as many individual agents, or as particles acting with common rules, or through other means.

Typically there are three rules:

• Agents seek to maintain separation from their neighbors.
• Agents seek to remain aligned with their neighbors.
• Agents seek a common goal or destination.

[edit] Applications

The most obvious applications are to provide motion for collection of elements ranging from birds and fish in the environment, to maintaining order within military units.

Flocking behavior is not limited to this type of motion. Flocking behavior can be used in any simulation where loose cohesion is required. This works especially well with relaxation systems.

A common example of flocking within relaxation systems is the deformable elastic mesh. Individual points within the mesh (1) seek to move away from their neighbors, (2) seek to be in the middle of their neighbors, and (3) seek to return to their original location.