This Python script simulates the complex behavior of a flock of birds, known as "Boids", using a few simple rules: separation, alignment, and cohesion, along with wandering behavior. The simulation utilizes the Pygame library for visualization and runs in real-time, displaying Boids as they interact with each other according to the defined parameters and behaviors. One can change the three different forces during simulation by adjusting the sliders.

• Python 3.x
• Pygame
• Pygame GUI

To run the simulation, you need to install the dependencies. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:

pip install -r requirements.txt

After installing the dependencies, you can run the simulation by executing the script in your terminal:

python boids.py

This will open a new window where you can see the Boids moving around the screen.

The script contains several parameters that you can tweak to change the behavior of the Boids:

• NUM_BOIDS: The number of Boids in the simulation.
• BOID_SIZE: The size of each Boid on the screen.
• SPEED: The speed at which Boids move.
• MAX_FORCE: The maximum force that can be applied to a Boid for it to change direction.
• BOID_FRICTION: The resistance the Boids experience, akin to friction, slowing them down over time.
• WANDER_RADIUS: The radius within which a Boid will wander randomly.
• SEPARATION: The degree to which Boids try to maintain distance from one another.
• SEPARATION_RADIUS: The radius within which Boids will begin to experience separation force.
• ALIGNMENT: The degree to which Boids try to align themselves with the average direction of nearby Boids.
• ALIGNMENT_RADIUS: The radius within which Boids will begin to experience alignment force.
• COHESION: The degree to which Boids try to move towards the average position of nearby Boids.
• COHESION_RADIUS: The radius within which Boids will begin to experience cohesion force.

Feel free to experiment with these values to observe different behaviors in the Boid flock.

• The script initializes a Pygame window and populates it with a number of Boid objects.
• Each Boid has properties that determine how it interacts with others:
  • Separation: Boids try to avoid crowding their neighbors.
  • Alignment: Boids try to align their direction with the average heading of their neighbors.
  • Cohesion: Boids try to move towards the average position of their neighbors.
• These forces are calculated for each Boid, and a resultant force changes the Boid's direction.
• A "wandering" behavior is also implemented to make the Boid's movement more natural and less uniform.
• Boids are drawn on the screen as simple triangles, the orientation of which depends on their current velocity.

• class Simulation: Handles the initialization and running of the simulation, managing events, and updating the Pygame screen.
• class PhysicsObject: An abstract class representing an object following simple physics laws.
• class Boid(PhysicsObject): Represents a Boid, inheriting from PhysicsObject, and containing methods for each behavioral rule (separation, alignment, cohesion, and wandering).

You can exit the simulation by closing the Pygame window or pressing Ctrl+C in the terminal.

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

• Craig Reynolds for the original concept of Boids.
• The course assistant in TDT4137 Kognitive arkitekturer that the setup.