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Influence of visual field offset on collective behavior: An exploration using the two-dimensional Vicsek model
Poorendra Ramlall1, Sachit Butail2, Subhradeep Roy1
1Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1 Aerospace Blvd, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114, USA.
Physical Review. E
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Visual field offset in collective behavior models, like the Vicsek model, can lead to surprising group dynamics. Flipped sensing, for example, enhances alignment and clustering even with high noise.
Area of Science:
- Collective behavior dynamics
- Agent-based modeling
- Perception in multi-agent systems
Background:
- Collective behavior is crucial in natural and artificial systems.
- Agent perception, often modeled as forward-facing, influences group dynamics.
- The Vicsek model is a standard for studying self-organized alignment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of visual field offset on collective behavior.
- To explore how restricted or altered perception affects group dynamics.
- To compare offset perception effects with the standard Vicsek model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Vicsek model simulation.
- Introduced a visual field offset parameter, including flipped sensing.
- Analyzed emergent behaviors under varying noise levels.
Main Results:
- Visual field offset generates diverse and counterintuitive collective behaviors.
- Flipped sensing resulted in near-perfect alignment and central clustering.
- This alignment persisted even under high noise conditions, unlike the standard model.
Conclusions:
- Offset perception can enhance group cohesion and robustness.
- Findings suggest benefits of non-forward-facing perception in biological systems.
- Offset sensing offers potential for improving coordination in artificial multi-agent systems.
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