The Magic of Herding
18 days ago
- #biophysics
- #sheepdog trials
- #collective behavior
- Doyle Ivie, a 77-year-old farmer and sheepdog trainer, allowed biophysicists Saad Bhamla and Tuhin Chakrabortty to study his sheepdogs.
- Sheepdog trials involve small flocks, where sheep display erratic behavior, unlike in large herds where they flock selfishly.
- Sheepdogs manage chaotic sheep behavior by embracing randomness, using a two-step process: nudging sheep gently and then increasing threat to move them.
- The scientists developed a mathematical model to simulate sheep behavior, finding randomness aids in controlling small collectives.
- An algorithm based on the findings could predict behavior in other small, indecisive collectives, useful for drone swarms and pedestrian movements.
- Limitations include the model's oversimplification of sheep behavior, lacking collision avoidance and memory.
- Experts note the findings apply to specific physics problems and not all small, noisy collectives.
- Future research aims to explore individual sheep behavior's impact on outcomes.