Paper:
A Simple Decentralized 3D Collision-Avoidance Method for Mobile Agents Inspired by Animal Attention
Takeshi Kano*1
, Mayuko Iwamoto*2,*3, and Ryo Kobayashi*2,*4

*1School of Systems Information Science, Future University Hakodate
116-2 Kamedanakano-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8655, Japan
*2Future University Hakodate
116-2 Kamedanakano-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 041-8655, Japan
*3Graduate School of Advanced Mathematical Sciences, Meiji University
4-21-1 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-8525, Japan
*4Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University
1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
Inspired by the attention mechanisms observed in animals, we propose a perceptually grounded and decentralized collision-avoidance model for multiple autonomous mobile agents in three-dimensional (3D) space. As the density of such agents is expected to increase in applications including aerial robots (e.g., drones), there is a growing need for lightweight, prediction-free control laws that ensure safety, quickness, and smooth motion. In the proposed model, each agent represents neighboring agents on a spherical screen corresponding to its visual field and evaluates two simple attention-like perceptual indices: a rate-of-approach index derived from an increase in apparent diameter under nearly stationary viewing direction, and a proximity index derived from the diameter itself. The velocity of each agent is updated based on variations in the viewing direction on a spherical screen, which provide the directional correction for collision avoidance. This update is realized through a combination of goal-directed and local avoidance terms, without prediction, optimization, or communication. Systematic simulations with extensive parameter sweeps demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a good balance of quickness, smoothness, and safety across multiple interaction scenarios, highlighting its potential as a practical and scalable control principle for 3D multi-agent systems.
Collision risk on a spherical screen
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