The physics of collective motion has been well-studied for the last thirty years. Until now, scientists have focused on the study of “fluid” movements, such as those of flocks of birds or schools of fish. Now, using an ingenious experimental device, researchers from the Gulliver laboratory (ESPCI Paris-PSL / CNRS) have revealed the possibility of collective movements in elastic solid structures. Their work sheds light on the mechanism and parameters that control this so-called “collective actuation.” This work is published in the journal Nature Physics.
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Source: Phys.org