Collective motion of oscillatory walkers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a phase-dependent velocity model for self-propelled particles, revealing complex flow patterns and destabilization effects in collective motion, with implications for crowd dynamics.

Contribution

It presents a novel phase-based extension to the optimal velocity model, uncovering new flow regimes and phase-anchoring phenomena in collective particle motion.

Findings

Identification of synchronized and disordered flow regimes

Discovery of complex disordered jam flow behavior

Demonstration of phase-anchoring effects at high densities

Abstract

We study a system of interacting self-propelled particles whose walking velocity depends on the stage of the locomotion cycle. The model introduces a phase equation in the optimal velocity model for vehicular traffic. We find that the system exhibits novel types of flow: synchronized free flow, phase-anchoring free flow, orderly jam flow, and disordered jam flow. The first two flows are characterized by synchronization of the phase, while the others do not have the global synchronization. Among these, the disordered jam flow is very complex, although the underlying model is simple. This phenomenon implies that the crowd behavior of moving particles can be destabilized by coupling their velocity to the phase of their motion. We also focus on "phase-anchoring" phenomena. They strongly affect particle flow in the system, especially when the density of particles is high.