From bees to robots: The new power of swarm intelligence | DW Documentary

Researchers are investigating how animals behave in swarms. Their findings are being applied to robotics, logistics and new models of participation — and are opening up new perspectives for business and democracy.


The "Imaging Hangar" at the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior (CASAB) at the University of Konstanz is a 225-square-metre hall equipped with cameras, sensors and a 3D environment — one of the largest swarm research laboratories in the world. "Not all swarms are driven by the same motivation,” explains Iain Couzin, Director of the Institute of Behavioral Biology and spokesperson for CASAB. One of his surprising findings: "Locusts flee out of fear of being eaten by their own kind."

The "Artificial Life Lab" in Graz offers deep insights into the life of the queen bee. As part of the EU research project "RoboRoyale", biologist Thomas Schmickl observes the inner circle of a bee colony at close quarters using a robot equipped with a camera and artificial intelligence. For decades, he’s been using technology to decipher the logic of swarms. A mini-robot swarm demonstrates how young bees make faster and better decisions when working as a group.

Melanie Schranz is researching how the swarm principle could optimize a semiconductor factory in Carinthia at the "Lakeside Labs" in Klagenfurt. Products that behave like bees independently seek out the nearest available food source. In this case, that means an available machine for the next stage of production. If one machine breaks down, production continues without the need for intervention from a central command.

The logic of the many applies not only to technology, but also to society. At the "Complexity Science Hub" in Vienna, psychologist Mirta Galesic demonstrates that diversity, independence and openness are crucial to collective intelligence. She refers to this as collective adaptability.

And even democracy can be improved. "Today, it’s often a narrow majority that decides how resources are used - this leads to cronyism and discontent," warns physicist and sociologist Dirk Helbing. At ETH Zurich, he is researching new ways of participatory decision-making. "Participatory budgeting", for example, is already being trialed in many cities.

The documentary offers a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of swarm research and highlights its potential for business and democracy.


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