This is a class project modeling the foraging behavior of Cataglyphis ants using Ev3 Lego Mindstorms Robot. This repo contains the research paper supporting the model, pictures of the physical built, and the files of code necessary to run the bot.
As mentioned earlier, this project was a class requirement for the course Cognitive Robotics in Beloit College (you can find the course description in the course catalog of the cognitive science department @ Beloit).
This robot was our final assignment in the course. We were asked to model the biological behavior of an animal (yes, any animal :D) as a synthesis for our work on philosophical theories about cognition and how they influence artificial intelligence (particularly robotics).
Because they are fascinating. The goal initially was to showcase ants' group intelligence in its foraging activities. Limitations in time and resources made us switch to individual foraging.
Most ants forage in groups. Cataglyphis ants (desert ants), are some of the few species out there with an individualistic approach to food gathering, due to the harsh environment they live in.
It locates its "food" (an IR bacon), fetches it, and brings it back to its "nest" (initial position). You can find out more about the mechanisms real ants use in this process (and many other cool facts about Cataglyphis ants and how they're modeled in this robot) in the accompanying research paper available in this repo.
- An Ev3 kit (educational or home edition. Both should work).
- Java environment and lejos plug-in installed.
- Some creativity and patience :)