Fascinated by the intricate behavior of flocking and the way in which birds form cohesive shapes without colliding, I became interested in exploring the underlying principles that govern such natural phenomena. Despite the complexity of flocking behavior, it is based on a few simple rules that can be simulated on a computer. However, I was determined to create a tangible, real-life implementation of this phenomenon.

To begin my exploration, I turned to Valentino Braitenberg’s work with robotic behaviour. By equipping a robot with a sensor and a source, specific behaviors can be created. For example, if the sensor detects light, the motor will accelerate forward, generating a “love” reaction. For my installation, I designed and built 50 miniature robots, each equipped with a sensor and a light source. When the robots sense each other’s presence, they vibrate more rapidly, giving rise to a complex system of behavior.

I have documented my research project in a simple research paper, which can be downloaded for further reading.