| Article ID: | iaor2001451 |
| Country: | United States |
| Volume: | 282 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Start Page Number: | 72 |
| End Page Number: | 79 |
| Publication Date: | Mar 2000 |
| Journal: | Scientific American |
| Authors: | Bonabeau Eric, Theraulaz Guy |
| Keywords: | heuristics |
Using ants and other social insects as models, computer scientists and operational researchers have created software agents that cooperate to solve complex problems. These include network optimisation, including telephone routing, travelling salesman and optimal paths through networks.