This $2,999,187 project grant from the National Science Foundation's Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) supports research at the New Jersey Institute of Technology to understand energetic regulation in distributed biological and engineered systems. Over five years, the researchers will conduct laboratory experiments on ant colonies to study their self-regulation of energy demand and availability under varying conditions. Network models will be developed based on these results to analyze behavioral rules leading to successful collective regulation or failure. The researchers will also design and test swarm robotics solutions for optimally balancing energetic supply and demand in dynamic environments through simulations and robot experiments. The goal is to establish a new paradigm for how loosely connected units can maintain homeostasis despite fluctuating energy requirements or resource availability. This award aims to increase scientific knowledge in the biological sciences through basic research with broader impacts including student learning opportunities.
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