Collective motion is commonly modeled with simple interaction rules between agents. Yet in nature, numerous observables vary within and between individuals and it remains largely unknown how animals respond to this variability, and how much of it may be the result of social responses. Here, we hypothesize that Guppies (\textit{Poecilia reticulata}) respond to avoidance behaviors of their shoal mates and that "socially competent" responses allow them to be more effective leaders. We test this hypothesis in an experimental setting in which a robotic Guppy, called RoboFish, is programmed to adapt to avoidance reactions of its live interaction partner. We compare the leadership performance between socially competent robots and two non-competent control behaviors and find that 1) behavioral variability itself appears attractive and that socially competent robots are better leaders that 2) require fewer approach attempts to 3) elicit longer average following behavior than non-competent agents. This work provides evidence that social responsiveness to avoidance reactions plays a role in the social dynamics of guppies. We showcase how social responsiveness can be modeled and tested directly embedded in a living animal model using adaptive, interactive robots.

中文翻译：

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具有社交能力的机器人：适应性提高了活鱼群体的领导能力

集体运动通常使用代理之间的简单交互规则进行建模。然而，在自然界中，个体内部和个体之间有许多可观察到的变化，并且在很大程度上仍然未知动物如何对这种可变性做出反应，以及其中有多少可能是社会反应的结果。在这里，我们假设孔雀鱼 (\textit{Poecilia reticulata}) 会对它们的浅滩伙伴的回避行为做出反应，并且“具有社交能力”的反应使它们能够成为更有效的领导者。我们在一个实验环境中测试了这个假设，其中一个名为 RoboFish 的机器人 Guppy 被编程为适应其实时交互伙伴的回避反应。我们比较了具有社交能力的机器人和两种非胜任控制行为之间的领导表现，发现 1) 行为可变性本身看起来很有吸引力，并且具有社交能力的机器人是更好的领导者 2) 需要更少的方法尝试来 3) 引发更长的平均跟随行为不合格的代理人。这项工作提供了证据，表明对回避反应的社会反应在孔雀鱼的社会动态中起作用。我们展示了如何使用自适应交互式机器人直接嵌入活体动物模型中对社会反应进行建模和测试。这项工作提供了证据，表明对回避反应的社会反应在孔雀鱼的社会动态中起作用。我们展示了如何使用自适应交互式机器人直接嵌入活体动物模型中对社会反应进行建模和测试。这项工作提供了证据，表明对回避反应的社会反应在孔雀鱼的社会动态中起作用。我们展示了如何使用自适应交互式机器人直接嵌入活体动物模型中对社会反应进行建模和测试。