Supervisor

Suitable for

Abstract

In 1998 a consortium consisting of the Computing Laboratory, Silsoe Research Institute, and the Universities of Leeds and Bristol, successfully demonstrated a robotic device that was capable of herding ducks, and thus demonstrated the efficacy of a mathematical model of flocking behaviour. In order to carry on this work (in a way that avoids having to muck out real animals!) we are repeating the work but this time with robot ducks. Currently a group of undergraduate project students are building the first prototype devices, which should be commissioned by Easter. There is then scope for one or more MSc projects, using either these devices, or testing new devices, or just experimenting with new control regimes under simulation to improve the capabilities of the system. This project might suit students with an engineering bent, or an inclination towards AI or artificial life.