Growth and allometric scaling of self-organizing systems
Abstract
The goal of this proposal is to understand how self-organizing systems can achieve allometry. As an organism grows from a single cell to an adult, it increases in mass by several orders of magnitude, and requires certain changes in its shape to contend with the forces of gravity or hydrodynamic drag. The primary way organisms deal with such forces is through allometry, the growth of body parts at different rates, resulting in a change of body proportions over time. This proposal seeks to understand how allometry is achieved in assemblages of the fire ant. Robotic self-organization involve small robots linking themselves together to build larger structures. While much work has been done on the algorithms of such assembly, little is known of the mechanics. Understanding how shape emerges from the ants will help answer longstanding questions about swarm behavior. How is memory created and stored in the group? We will employ CT scans to examine orientation of ants in response to shaking to investigate the memory of the ants. What is the feedback mechanism that preserves classical scaling relationships? We hypothesize that, analogously to trees and bee structures, fire ants within structures respond to strains rather than stresses when reinforcing their structures. What limiting factors govern the shape of structures at large sizes? We will test a number of allometric rules to find laws for the shape of the assemblages. These are questions at the intersection of self-organization and mechanics, and are the core of this proposal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910086
Entities
People
- David L. Hu
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- United States Army