Active Brownian particles and aligning Vicsek particles are the most frequently employed models to describe the dynamics and collective behavior of motile active matter [1,2]. However, for living systems, activity and locomotion is combined with sensing of the environment and adaption of motion. We study such system by considering “intelligent” active particles with visual perception
and self-steering in dry [3-6] and wet systems [7,8]. Our model of cognitive self-steering particles consists of intelligent active Brownian particles
(iABPs), which are equipped with an orientational response to an instantaneous visual input of the positions of neighbors within a vision cone -- with limited maneuverability (ability to change the propulsion direction) [3-5]. The redirection of particle motion can be either to follow other particles, or to avoid them. This model can be employed to study the collective motion of many
identical iAPBs [3,4], e.g. to describe the motion of pedestrians in confinement or at an intersection [5], but also the pursuit of a moving target by single predator [6]. In many systems, like flocks of birds and schools of fish, it is obvious that alignment of motion with neighbors is also important. The ratio of vision-related maneuverability and alignment-induced steering then controls swarm shapes and dynamics [4]. In wet systems, a combination of alignment interactions and hydrodynamic interactions plays an essential role [7,8], where particles are modelled as “intelligent” squirmer (iSquirmers). Here,pushers and pullers display very different emergent behaviors.
References:
[1] J. Elgeti, R.G. Winkler, G. Gompper, Rev. Prog. Phys. 78, 056601 (2015)
[2] G. Gompper et al., J. Phys. Condens. Matter 37, 143501 (2025).
[3] R.S. Negi, R.G. Winkler, G. Gompper, Soft Matter 18, 6167 (2022)
[4] R.S. Negi, R.G. Winkler, G. Gompper, Phys. Rev. Research 6, 013118 (2024)
[5] P. Iyer, R.S. Negi, A. Schadschneider, and G. Gompper, Commun. Phys. 7, 379 (2024)
[6] S. Goh, R.G. Winkler, G. Gompper, New J. Phys. 24, 093039 (2022)
[7] S. Goh, R.G. Winkler, G. Gompper, Commun. Phys. 6, 31 (2023)
[8] S. Goh, E. Westphal, R.G. Winkler, G. Gompper, Phys. Rev. Research 7, 013142 (2025)
