Computation of Voronoi diagram and collision-free path using the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum

Tomohiro Shirakawa*, Yukio Pegio Gunji

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is a large, unicellular and multinuclear organism whose computational ability is attracting a lot of attention in the field of nature-inspired unconventional computing. To test the computational capability of the organism and its utility for future applications, we have implemented the computation of a Voronoi diagram and a collision-free path in an experimental system using Physarum plasmodium. Attractants and repellents for the plasmodium were arranged in the experimental system to induce the plasmodium to form the graphs. The plasmodium solved the complex problem and successfully formedVoronoi diagrams and collision-free paths, demonstrating its computational ability.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-88
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Unconventional Computing
Volume6
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2010 May 26
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Collision-free path
  • Nature inspired computing
  • Physarum polycephalum
  • Plasmodium
  • True slime mold
  • Voronoi diagram

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science(all)

Cite this