Re: Those Darn Ants

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#158

From: Bruce Gregory
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 00:00

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[From Bruce Gregory (990423.1400 EDT)]

Bruce Abbott (990423.1235 EST)

> Given that the ant's behavior in the situation described
> (returning to its
> nest over rough, obstacle-filled terrain) can be elegantly
> described by the
> few simple equations that specify a particular control system, I find
> Simon's observation right on the money.  The complexity of the ant's
> behavior is due not to the complexity of the ant but to the many
> disturbances which must be countered, that threaten to
> deviate the ant's
> path from its reference direction.

Granting that Simon's observation was correct, did he understand how the
ant's behavior "can be elegantly described by a few simple equations
that specify a particular control system"?


Bruce Gregory

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From: Bruce Gregory <bgregory@CFA.HARVARD.EDU>
Subject: Re: Those Darn Ants
Date: 1999/04/23
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