Computing systems inspired by biological systems (biocomputation) are one possible alternative currently being investigated. Bio-inspired computing, short for biologically inspired computing, is a field of study that loosely knits together subfields related to the topics of connectionism, social behaviour and emergence. It is often closely related to the field of artificial intelligence, as many of its pursuits can be linked to machine learning.

In addition to its potential applications, such as DNA computation, nanofabrication, storage devices, sensing, and health care, biocomputation also has implications for basic scientific research. It can provide biologists, for example, with an IT-oriented paradigm for looking at how cells compute or process information, or help computer scientists construct algorithms based on natural systems, such as evolutionary and genetic algorithms. Biocomputing has the potential to be a very powerful tool.

An Introduction to Swarm Intelligence

Swarm intelligence is the collective intelligence of a group, which is far superior to the intelligence of a particular member. It is an emergent phenomenon. The term finds its origin in biology. Formation of ant colonies, birds flocking, building structure of a honey comb etc. are all examples of swarm intelligence. The same concept is used in the field of artificial intelligence to mimic nature for problem solving.

How Does Swarm Intelligence Work in Nature?

Swarm theory is based on simple rules and hence it works with simple creatures like ants, birds, bees and fish. A single ant or a single bee is not intelligent. But as a group they are extremely smart. They work together to look for food, to build their homes or to migrate from one place to another. The surprising thing is that there is neither a leader nor a vision and yet they co-ordinate and work very systematically. Each member of the group is self–organized and carries out different tasks as the need arises. They may work as food collectors, nest workers, maintenance workers etc. as per the day's need.

Ants communicate with each other using their antennae and by laying pheromones. They feel and smell each other and understand which task to undertake. For example, once an ant retrieves food and comes back to its colony, other ants join the effort by tracing the traversed path to the source of food and back. No ant tells the other ant what to do or what not to do. Just by simple interactions with each other they overcome everyday challenges effectively.

Applications of Swarm Intelligence

Swarm intelligence is used in various fields like robotics for controlling robots, automobiles for designing unmanned cars, in NASA for planet or satellite mapping, in medical fraternity for locating and killing tumors or blockages, in genetics, in data mining etc.

The field is still emerging and has only taken its first few steps. Emergent phenomena in biology are serving to be new sources of inspiration for the field. With time, as robotics and nanotechnology advance and the understanding of this emergent behavior deepens, we will build intelligent swarms that can achieve greater precision in adapting and achieving tasks.

The above story is based on http://functionspace.org/quartertopic/1086

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