These Travel Maps Use Mold to Determine Optimal Routes
Michael Baxter — February 27, 2014 — Tech
References: infosthetics & psfk
With the advent of cell phones and GPS far fewer people are actively using travel maps to get from point A to point B. While GPS' and phones are amazing ways to find your way around, this map provides a few things they don't. This map uses mold to help determine the best highway and other travel routes.
This map is as strange as the mold that it's covered in is. The mold, called the Physarum polycephalum slime finds food by sending out branches to optimal locations and thins out the less favorable ones.
The travel map works by putting food at favorable locations on a US map and allowing the slime to come up with the most optimal route to reach that food. While the idea is radical, it could be very helpful in finding good traffic routes.
This map is as strange as the mold that it's covered in is. The mold, called the Physarum polycephalum slime finds food by sending out branches to optimal locations and thins out the less favorable ones.
The travel map works by putting food at favorable locations on a US map and allowing the slime to come up with the most optimal route to reach that food. While the idea is radical, it could be very helpful in finding good traffic routes.
Trend Themes
1. Mold-based Routing - Using mold to determine optimal travel routes could disrupt the navigation industry.
2. Biologically-inspired Mapping - Applying biological principles like mold growth to map design can open up innovative opportunities in the travel industry.
3. Alternative Navigation Methods - Exploring alternative navigation methods like mold-based maps can lead to disruptive innovations in transportation technology.
Industry Implications
1. Navigation - The navigation industry could benefit from incorporating mold-based routing algorithms into their products and services.
2. Travel - The travel industry can explore the use of mold-based maps to provide unique and optimized travel experiences for customers.
3. Transportation - The transportation industry could potentially revolutionize their logistics and route planning strategies by adopting mold-based navigation systems.
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