GoKawiilAlgorithms for making interesting organic simulations
The purpose of this article is to explain techiques that enabled me to make simulations like the one below, along with a lot of other organic looking things. We will focus on algorithmic techniques for artistic purpose rather than scientific meaning.
1. Physarum algorithm from Jeff Jones (2010)
Jeff Jones presented a simulation algorithm that reproduces the behavior of organisms such as Physarum polycephalum. It is explained in this paper.
Results typically look like this: (source: screenshots from implementation by Amanda Ghassaei)
General principle
The basic idea is that particles (also called agents) move around, leaving a trail behind them and trying to follow the trails they detect.
Below is an interactive explanation of a single agent, without representing the trail update. Please don't mind the glitch after slider change :)
Detailed description of the algorithm
A large number of agents move in a 2D space.
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