Herding Sheep: With or without a sheperd?
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2014-07-17
Language
en
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Abstract
Creating an algorithm to simulate animal behaviour is useful in many ways. This
thesis investigates the performance of a number of algorithms that simulate
flock control with a flock of sheep, and sheepdog. A new algorithm is created to find
out whether it performs more effective than the already existing algorithms in
the simulator. The created algorithm differs from other algorithms by using a
user-controlled shepherd and sheepdog to control the flock. The shepherd is
able to give commands to the sheepdog to herd the sheep. The performance
of the algorithms is tested in an experiment where the flock has to move from
a certain position to a goal position through a specific route. By introducing the shepherd who commands the sheepdog, the algorithm offers the possibility
to adapt to changing circumstances in the simulator. Results of the experiment
show that the algorithms without shepherd perform faster on a shepherding task
than the algorithm with a shepherd. However, the results also indicate that
with more practice the algorithm with shepherd can outperform the algorithms
without shepherd.
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen