Physical Computation in Insect Swarms - IPAM at UCLA

Explore the fascinating world of insect swarm communication in this 30-minute lecture presented by Orit Peleg from the University of Colorado Boulder at IPAM's Mathematics of Collective Intelligence Workshop. Delve into the complex ways insects share information in natural environments, examining concepts from computer science, physics, and mathematics such as energetic cost, compression, and detectability. Focus on two primary types of communication in insect swarms: visual communication in fireflies using light signals over long distances, and chemical communication in bees acting as signal amplifiers for pheromone-based information about queen location. Gain insights into how organisms harness communication signal dynamics, perform spatiotemporal integration, and propagate signals to neighboring organisms. Discover the application of swarm intelligence, scaling laws, and agent-based models in understanding these intricate biological systems.