Calculating Swarms

Ant teamwork suggests models for computing faster and organizing better

Miniature Khepera robots are programmed to forage like ants. J.B. Billeter, Geneva

A diminutive Khepera robot, developed at EPFL, shows off its gripping and lifting prowess. Alain Herzog/EPFL

A swarm of miniature robots fans out from a “nest” in search of “food.”