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> In fact, compared to humans, these ants could load up the bridge with twice the capacity without slowing down. Then, on the next paragraph: > And they do th
by DeusExMachina 7y ago
> In fact, compared to humans, these ants could load up the bridge with twice the capacity without slowing down.
Then, on the next paragraph:
> And they do this through self-imposed speed regulation. When it's moderately busy, for instance, the authors found the ants actually speed up, accelerating until a maximum flow or capacity is reached.
Doesn't this mean that they do slow down?
- SimplyUnknown 7y agoI'm speculating that "slow down" in your first quote means "the flow doesn't plummet towards zero when it's busy" and in the second quote it means "reduce their average velocity". So in that sense they don't slow down (i.e. the colony doesn't grind to a halt) because they slow down (i.e. literally slowing down) Again, I'm speculating about the meaning but if I'm right then it's a poor choice of words from the author.
- penagwin 7y agoYes individuals slow down, but it prevents the "traffic jam waves" you see with humans. Essentially each individual ant is going slightly slower so that the average throughput stays the same. You know how in traffic jams everyone is breaking, then speeding up - just to slam their breaks again? Ants prevent the breaks part by moving slower in the first place, which improves the traffic flow.