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arXiv · 2411.15902

Can flocking aid the path planning of microswimmers in turbulent flows?

Akanksha Gupta·Jaya Kumar Alageshan·Kolluru Venkata Kiran·Rahul Pandit
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Abstract

We show that flocking of microswimmers in a turbulent flow can enhance the efficacy of reinforcement-learning-based path-planning of microswimmers in turbulent flows. In particular, we develop a machine-learning strategy that incorporates Vicsek-model-type flocking in microswimmer assemblies in a statistically homogeneous and isotropic turbulent flow in two dimensions (2D). We build on the adversarial-reinforcement-learning of Ref.~\cite{alageshan2020machine} for non-interacting microswimmers in turbulent flows. Such microswimmers aim to move optimally from an initial position to a target. We demonstrate that our flocking-aided version of the adversarial-reinforcement-learning strategy of Ref.~\cite{alageshan2020machine} can be superior to earlier microswimmer path-planning strategies.

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Akanksha Gupta, Jaya Kumar Alageshan, Kolluru Venkata Kiran, Rahul Pandit. 2024-11-24. Can flocking aid the path planning of microswimmers in turbulent flows?. https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.15902

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