Initial Formulation of an Optimization Method Based on Stigmergic Construction

Modeling Stigmeric Construction

Assembled structures can emerge from numerous local interactions between the components or agents in a given environment. The motivation behind modeling stigmergy based collective construction is based on observations of paper wasps that build their nests by engaging in reactive, stimulus-response type behaviors. Although they may not have any explicit knowledge about the overall structure of the nest they are building, they can observe the local arrangements of existing nest elements. This observation leads to the insect behavior or response regarding depositing a new nest element. The local patterns that lead the insect to engage in a reactive behavior were termed stigmergic configurations by Theraulaz and Bonabeau (1995), who also performed a computational study of the nest construction of paper wasps. In their study the modeled wasps moved randomly in a three-dimensional lattice and reacted to stigmergic configurations when they were close enough to detect one. Theraulaz and Bonabeau designed the stigmergic configurations or rule sets manually. In a later study by Bonabeau, Guerin, Snyers, Kuntz, and Theraulaz (2000) the rule sets were evolved using a genetic algorithm.