Synflocks
Synflocks - synthetic bird flocks - is a fuzzy logic based simulation tool for bird behaviour related research. It has been under constant development since 2003. It is based on an individual based model, where each individual bird (synthetic bird or synbird) is described by means of defining its perception model, its drives, and action selection. Most of the existing knowledge about the behaviour of bird flocks is available in the form of descriptions and explanations of the perceived behaviour collected by field ornithologists, which is why we developed the simulation tool that employs fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic is extremely useful for converting ambiguous information in the form of linguistic descriptions into mathematical equations. The user of our simulation tool uses simple if-then rules to describe the synbird's drives and stidues the behaviour either through visual observetion of interactions of large quantities of synbirds or numerical analysis of selected observed metrics. We use the simulation tool for:
- flocking behaviour studies
- sensory perception model studies
- drives studies
- action selection strategies studies
- predator/prey studies
- foraging studies
- landing and takeoff sudies
- heterogeneity studies