Robot Social Group Applet

Written in Java, this robot group simulation illustrates autonomous robots exhibiting social behavior.


Robot Social Group Applet version 1.12.

Watch the little 2D robots moving around. The applet starts with 17 robots randomly distributed in a 600 by 600 pixel area (infinite plane workspace), with random orientations. They are non-holonomic robots that can only move forward with a limited turning radius (sort of like an automobile). Each robot tries to move toward the midpoint of its two nearest neighbors, except that if it gets too close to any robot, it will move away from the closest one. If a robot is very close to its goal, it will stop, and restart when its goal point moves away. Some people will be fascinated by the patterns this social group makes over time, others less so. Clicking in the applet window will reset the group or start the animation.

This Java source code is for educational purposes only. Viewing or downloading the source implies your acceptance of the restrictions:

  1. Use the source code for educational purposes only.
  2. Give appropriate attribution in all executables and listings derived from this source.
  3. Reproduce these restrictions and conditions in any derived programs or Web pages.

I agree to the restrictions and conditions on the source code.

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This page established July 26, 2006; last updated September 8, 2011 by Rick Wagner. Copyright © 2006-2011, all rights reserved.