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Communication

Communication

Communication between two animals occurs when one animal transmits an information signal that causes a change in the animal that receives the information. Organisms communicate with one another in a host of different ways. Signals can be auditory, chemical, visual, tactile, or a combination of these. Communication is a critical behavioral adaptation that promotes survival, growth, and reproduction.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches

Using Insect Electroantennogram Sensors on Autonomous Robots for Olfactory Searches

Published on: August 4, 2014

Robotic communication with ants.

Nigel R Franks¹, Jacob A Podesta^1,2, Edward C Jarvis¹

¹School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK.

The Journal of Experimental Biology

|August 9, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Tandem running in ants Temnothorax albipennis can succeed without leader trail-laying. Following ants may create their own trails when the leader uses airborne pheromones, not substrate trails.

Keywords:

Animal–robot interaction Learning Orientation Pheromones Social behaviour Tandem running

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Area of Science:

Animal Behavior
Insect Communication
Robotics in Biology

Background:

Tandem running is a crucial social navigation strategy in ants.
The role of pheromone trails versus airborne cues in tandem running is not fully understood.
Investigating ant navigation without traditional trail-laying provides insight into alternative communication methods.

Purpose of the Study:

To test if tandem running in Temnothorax albipennis is successful without leader trail-laying.
To determine if airborne pheromones alone can guide a follower ant.
To explore the navigational capabilities of ants when relying on landmarks and potentially self-laid trails.

Main Methods:

A robotic gantry simulated a leader ant using airborne pheromones from detached glands.
The robot guided individual ants to a new nest, with options for human intervention.
The robot recorded the return path of each ant to its original nest.

Main Results:

Ants guided by the robot (airborne pheromones) were more successful navigators than control ants.
The path shape (straight vs. sinusoidal) did not significantly affect homing ability.
Following ants showed evidence of laying their own trails, substituting for the leader's.

Conclusions:

Tandem running in Temnothorax albipennis can be successful using airborne pheromones.
Ants can adapt their navigation strategies, potentially by laying their own trails, in the absence of leader-laid substrate trails.
Robotic systems offer a viable method for studying insect social behavior and navigation.