Boidsmodellen

The Boids model is a computer simulation that demonstrates the emergent flocking behavior of birds. Developed by Craig Reynolds in 1986, the model simulates flocks as collections of individual agents, or "boids," each following a simple set of rules. These rules are separation, alignment, and cohesion.

The separation rule prevents boids from colliding with their neighbors by steering away from nearby boids. The alignment rule causes boids to steer towards the average heading of their local flockmates, making them move in the same direction. The cohesion rule makes boids steer towards the average position of their local flockmates, keeping them together.

When applied to a population of boids, these simple local rules lead to complex and realistic global flocking patterns. The boids appear to move with a collective intelligence, reacting to their environment and each other in ways that mimic natural flocks of birds, fish, or other social animals. The Boids model is a classic example of emergent behavior in artificial life and computational intelligence. It has applications beyond simple animation, influencing fields like robotics, urban planning, and crowd simulation. The model's power lies in its ability to generate complex behavior from simple, decentralized rules.