Management in Ant Colony.

Natural analogue of the resolution of social contradictions using TRIZ tools

1. Bogatyreva O.A Management in ant colonies: Natural analogue of the resolution of social contradictions using TRIZ tools. ETRIA Conference Proceedings, Strasbourg, Nov 6-9. 2002.

Contradictions In Ants Life Ant & Colony

Complex Contradictions The Ideal Result is to achieve cooperation

without loss of reliability Ants have 2 dependent pairs of contradictions Specialization-Generalization. Cooperation - Competition. TRIZ does not have any prescriptions for

complex contradictions solving Do ants have rules for complex contradictions

solving?

How to Find Complex Contradictions

MaxMin

Space Time Structure/Function

Interactions

Space Simple contradiction

Complex contradiction

Complex contradiction

Complex contradiction

Time Simple contradiction

Complex contradiction

Complex contradiction

Structure/Function

Simple contradiction

Complex contradiction

Interactions Simple contradiction

How to Solve a Complex Contradiction? Different Management As a Solution

Contradictions Solutions of simple and complex contradictionsSpace Time Structure/

Function Interactions

↑↓ Specialisation Coordination

III↓↑ Generalisation

↑↓ Cooperation ControllingII↓↑Competition

↑↓Specialisation ↑↓ Specialization ↓↑ Generalization

↓↑ Competition ↑↓ Cooperation ↓↑ Competition

GoverningIV

ActivationI

How to Detect a Complex Contradiction?

To detect a second level contradiction: just find opposite arrows: it will be specialisation-competition on table 4.

To solve the second level contradiction simply find the non-contradictory synchronous directions of the arrows

Types of “Management” in Ant Colony

Activation.

All ants are equal in ability for every task. The level of competition is so high that they have no stable interactions.

Cooperation is based on activation: more active ants guide others to perform a particular function.

Types of “Management” in Ant Colony

ControllingIn the first part in its life an

ant does all sorts of different tasks in the nest. When it chooses the speciality an ant joins the corresponding team. This is “age polyethism”.

All teams are hierarchically organised and controlled by an older specialist.

This cooperation is based on the role hierarchy.

Types of “Management” in Ant Colony

CoordinationThis type of “management” is

for ants with high level of colony complexity and strict specialisation, sometimes even morphological (castes).

Ordinarily a colony does not need all tasks to be performed completely. As all castes are in surplus, “unemployment” follows.

Strict hierarchy reduces competition to allow cooperation in this case.

Types of “Management” in Ant Colony

Governing This was described for

species with high complexity of social structure. An old ant, who has performed many different functions in its life, stays on the nest cupola and regulates all functions performed outside the nest.

How Do Ants Solve Simple Contradictions?

Cooperation-Competition contradiction in interactions is solved by “Controlling” (II) management.

Someone who likes doing something will attract and activate friends for this particular job. New function is added – attraction.

How Do Ants Solve Simple Contradictions?

Functional contradiction Specialization-Generalization by Coordination (III). Adapted ant and adaptable society is achieved by strong behavioural hierarchy. Competition in this case is “frozen” in interaction structure: there is no point in fighting every time – all leaders are recognisable.

How Do Ants Solve Complex Contradictions?

I . “Function-Interaction” contradiction is solved in time by “Activation” (I).

Work simultaneously allows solitary foragers to recognise each other and to be friends (reduce competition ). Competition in activity is achieved by this solution.

Generalization + Competition = Reliability

How Do Ants Solve Complex Contradictions?

II - Governing (IV) solves the complex “Function-Interaction” contradiction

To locate “central government” for outdoor work in a nest (solution in space).

Specialization + Cooperation = Reliability

System Complexity and Ways of Complex Contradiction Solving.

I

II

IV

III

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

% of specialists (more specialisation, less generalisation)

num

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of l

evel

s of

hie

rarc

hy

(less

com

petit

ion

mor

e co

oper

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Applying Ant Rules for Technique

Contradictions Decisions

Space Time Structure/Function

Time:↑↓Quick converting ↓↑Convert after transporting

1. To transport2. Do not transport

Structure/Function:↑↓To harden (slag) ↓↑ Do not harden

1. To delay hardening 2. To let slag harden

Time – Structure/Function ↓↑ To transport↑↓ To let slag harden

Add ice as a new structure to make foam crust, which can be easy removed

Conclusions -1  Complex contradictions, previously unknown in TRIZ,

are detected. Four types of ant “management” that solve simple and

complex contradictions are described: “Controlling” and “Coordination” – for simple

contradictions, ”Activation” and “Governing” for complex ones.

Conclusions-2 Ways of complex contradictions solving are

different according to the system complexity: “Activation” management - is for society with a

simple structure and a small population, “Governing” – is for society of high complexity and large population.

Conclusions-3 Ant rule for simple contradiction solving is: look

for a resolution in different spheres then contradiction is found.

Ant rule for solving complex contradiction is: look for the resolution within other spheres then the resolution of the relatively simple contradictions will have been achieved.