Clogging in Macroscopic Active Matter Flow Through a Bottleneck - From Pedestrians to Robots

Explore the fascinating phenomenon of clogging in macroscopic active matter systems through this 45-minute research presentation that examines how collective motion breaks down when crowds, swarms, or groups of active agents attempt to pass through narrow passages. Discover the fundamental physics behind bottleneck effects by analyzing real-world scenarios ranging from pedestrian evacuation dynamics to robotic swarm navigation challenges. Learn about the critical parameters that determine when smooth flow transitions to jamming states, including density thresholds, interaction forces, and geometric constraints. Investigate experimental observations and theoretical models that reveal universal patterns in active matter clogging across different scales and systems. Examine how insights from pedestrian crowd dynamics can inform the design of more efficient robotic collective behaviors, and understand the mathematical frameworks used to predict and prevent dangerous stampede situations. Gain knowledge about phase transitions in driven many-body systems, the role of fluctuations in maintaining flow, and practical applications for improving evacuation procedures and autonomous robot coordination in confined spaces.