Based on ideas presented in Valentino Braitenberg's book Vehicles,
the Vehicle4 project explores variations in the behavior of simple systems.
The simulation begins in a state of chaos, but over time it gradually
moves to a state of order. The hundreds of vehicles are constantly moving
as they are pulled in many directions by the different forces acting upon
them. They slowly find a comfortable pattern of movement, but when one
of the attractors is moved, the system is taken out of its dynamic equilibrium
and must once again slowly develop a new pattern of order.
The recent history of the vehicle's locations are shown through the black
trail of dots that each leaves behind as they move around the environment.
These trails are maps enabling us to see the complex movements of these
simple systems. The forces in this system are visually represented by
large red circles which may be moved to different locations through an
interface on the right edge of the image.