In 1987 at Symbolics Graphics Labs, Craig Reynolds invented the Boids Algorithm—a milestone in Artificial Life demonstrating how complex collective behavior emerges from 3 microscopic local rules:
1. Separation: Avoid crowding local flockmates.
2. Alignment: Steer towards average heading of local flockmates.
3. Cohesion: Move towards average position (center) of local flockmates.
Tap the ocean to drop food flakes, introduce predator sharks, or adjust swarm forces!
Craig (1987)
Force keeping fish from colliding into each other.
Force synchronizing swim direction with neighbors.
Force pulling fish toward the swarm's center of mass.
Neighbor detection distance for each fish.
EMERGENT SCHOOLING DISCOVERY:
1. Tap anywhere in Feed Mode to scatter glowing food flakes.
2. Switch to Predator Mode [S] to chase the school with a shark!
3. Tweak Separation, Alignment & Cohesion to watch sub-swarms, swirls, and tornados form naturally!