3D beeswarm

beeswarm.R

#Function to generate random 3D points within a defined space
initialize_swarm = function(n=100, range=10) {
  swarm = matrix(runif(n * 3, -range, range), ncol=3)
  velocities = matrix(runif(n * 3, -0.1, 0.1), ncol=3) 
  list(swarm=swarm, velocities=velocities)
}

spinning_vector_field = function(swarm, spin_strength=0.05) {
  #Swirl around the Z-axis 
  x = swarm[,1]
  z = swarm[,3]
  vx = -spin_strength * z
  vz = spin_strength * x
  vy = rep(0, length(x))
  return(cbind(vx, vy, vz))
}

#Function to update swarm movement
update_swarm = function(swarm, velocities, center=c(0,0,0), cohesion=0.01, randomness=0.05,spin_strength=0.05) {
  n = nrow(swarm)
  
  #Compute attraction force to center
  direction_to_center = center - swarm
  swarm = swarm + cohesion * direction_to_center + velocities
  
  # Add randomness
  swarm = swarm + matrix(runif(n * 3, -randomness, randomness), ncol=3)
  
  #Apply spinning vector field
  spin_effect = spinning_vector_field(swarm, spin_strength)
  swarm = swarm + spin_effect
  
  #Update velocities with some damping
  velocities = velocities * 0.95 + matrix(runif(n * 3, -0.02, 0.02), ncol=3)
  
  #Update velocities with position vector
  list(swarm=swarm, velocities=velocities)
}

library(rayvertex)
#Animate the swarm
single_bee = text3d_mesh("🐝", text_height = 50, angle=c(0,180,0))
set.seed(1)
n_points = 200
swarm_data = initialize_swarm(n=n_points)

for (i in 1:360) {
  swarm_data = update_swarm(swarm_data$swarm, swarm_data$velocities)
  swarm_scene = list()
  for(j in seq_len(200)) {
    swarm_scene[[j]] = single_bee |> 
      translate_mesh(position = swarm_data$swarm[j,]*40+c(555,555,555)/2)
  }
  swarm_scene |> 
    scene_from_list() |> 
    add_shape(generate_cornell_mesh()) |>
    rasterize_scene(light_info=directional_light(direction = c(0.2,0.5,-1)),
    filename = sprintf("beeswarm_plot%i.png",i), width=800, height=800)
}