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From: hiebeler@cs.rpi.edu (Dave Hiebeler)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,comp.theory.cell-automata,comp.theory.dynamic-sys,comp.theory.self-org-sys
Subject: flocking behavior
Message-ID: <W_2`R$@rpi.edu>
Date: 1 Feb 90 04:19:08 GMT
Organization: RPI CS Dept, and LANL Center for Nonlinear Studies
Lines: 32


  I am interested in learning some basics about flocking behavior, for
example in birds and fish.  I'm not interested in how the physiology
of particular animals drives flocking.  What I am more interested in
is phenomenology of flocking, that is, classifications of different
types of flocking behavior, some relevant parameters, and maybe some
mathematical models of such behavior.  I am most interested in
"homogeneous" flocking, that is, where there is no "leader", although
that is not a strong requirement.

  So if anyone could point me toward some decent references that might
be what I'm looking for, I'd appreciate it.  So far, I've seen Craig
Reynold's "Boids" article in the 1987 SIGGraph proceedings, and a
handful of articles from the journal "Animal Behaviour", but not much.
References to either good journals that might have this kind of stuff,
or to specific articles/books would be great.

  The reason for my asking is that I am entertaining the notion of a
cellular-automata-like model of flocking, which has been on the mental
"back burner" for 6 months now.  I'd like to absorb some more
background material on flocking in general, so I can see what I can
abstract, to help me analyze/understand/improve my model.

  Since I'm posting this to several newsgroups as well as the cellular
automata mailing-list, replies via e-mail are preferred; I'll post a
summary if I get any info.

-- 
Dave Hiebeler                Internet: hiebeler@turing.cs.rpi.edu (preferred)
Computer Science Dept.         Bitnet: userF3JL@rpitsmts  (last resort)
Amos Eaton Bldg.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute / Troy, NY 12180-3590