TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to present an algorithm for spatially sorting objects into an annular structure.Design/methodology/approach– A swarm‐based model that requires only stochastic agent behaviour coupled with a pheromone‐inspired “attraction‐repulsion” mechanism.Findings– The algorithm consistently generates high‐quality annular structures, and is particularly powerful in situations where the initial configuration of objects is similar to those observed in nature.Research limitations/implications– Experimental evidence supports previous theoretical arguments about the nature and mechanism of spatial sorting by insects.Practical implications– The algorithm may find applications in distributed robotics.Originality/value– The model offers a powerful minimal algorithmic framework, and also sheds further light on the nature of attraction‐repulsion algorithms and underlying natural processes.
VL  - 1
IS  - 3
SN  - 1756-378X
DO  - 10.1108/17563780810893491
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/17563780810893491
AU  - Amos Martyn
AU  - Don Oliver
PY  - 2008
Y1  - 2008/01/01
TI  - Swarm‐based spatial sorting
T2  - International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 454
EP  - 473
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -