Output details
15 - General Engineering
University of the West of England, Bristol
Article title
Ants in a labyrinth: A statistical mechanics approach to the division of labour
Type
D - Journal article
Title of journal
PLoS One
Article number
-
Volume number
6
Issue number
4
First page of article
e18416
ISSN of journal
1932-6203
Year of publication
2011
Number of additional authors
4
Additional information
This theoretical study of a spatially explicit model for the division of labour, inspired by the classic ‘Ant in a Labyrinth’ model by the physics Nobel Laureate Pierre de Gennes, demonstrates for the first time that the non-random distribution of members of a social organisation could be caused by indirect (stigmergic) interactions, that is, changes in the environment resulting from the behaviour of others, as opposed to just direct agent-to-agent interactions. This result has already impacted studies on the costs and benefits of specialisation in autonomous systems (Robotics and Autonomous Systems 2012 11:1408-1420).
Interdisciplinary
-
Cross-referral requested
-
Research group
3 - Engineering Modelling and Simulation Group
Proposed double-weighted
No
Double-weighted statement
-
Reserve for a double-weighted output
No
Non-English
No
English abstract
-
