Dynamics of Decision-Making in Animal Group Motion
Benjamin Nabet, Naomi Ehrich Leonard, Iain D. Couzin, Simon A. Levin Journal of Nonlinear
Science, vol. 19, pp. 399-435, 2009.
DOI 10.1007/s00332-008-9038-6, 2009.
We analyze a continuous-time model of a multi-agent system motivated by
simulation studies on dynamics of decision-making in animal groups
in motion. Each individual moves at constant speed in the plane
and adjusts its heading in response to relative headings of others
in the population. The population includes two subgroups that are ``informed'' such that
individuals in each subgroup have a preferred direction of motion. The model exhibits
fast and slow time scales allowing for a reduction in the dimension of the
problem. The stable solutions for the reduced model correspond to
compromise by individuals with conflicting preferences. We study
the global phase space for the proposed reduced model by computing
equilibria and exploring stability and bifurcations.
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