Concept
reference: https://muslimmatters.org/2012/11/15/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-kaaba/
My concept for the flocking system is inspired by the sacred ritual of Umrah. I wanted to explore flocking in a different way where movement is not random or purely emergent, but organized around a central point. In Umrah, Muslims perform a ritual in which they circle the Kaaba seven times. I was interested in translating this idea into a computational system, where agents revolve around a central structure. In this project, I aimed to reflect that circular, collective movement in an abstract and respectful way, without directly representing people. Instead, I used simplified forms to suggest a crowd while keeping the focus on motion and spatial relationships. My visual inspiration also comes from a drawing of the Kaaba displayed in the art center, located beside the lift on the right side. Although I do not have an image of it, the composition and presence of that piece influenced how I approached the central structure in my work.
A highlight of some code
orbitForce() {
let center = createVector(width / 2, height / 2);
let radial = p5.Vector.sub(this.pos, center);
if (radial.mag() === 0) return createVector(0, 0);
// convert radial direction into circular motion
let tangent = createVector(-radial.y, radial.x);
tangent.normalize();
tangent.mult(this.maxSpeed);
let steering = p5.Vector.sub(tangent, this.vel);
steering.limit(this.maxForce * 1.3);
return steering;
}
One part of the code I am particularly proud of is the orbit behavior. Instead of having agents move randomly or only react to nearby neighbors, I introduced a force that converts their position relative to the center into a tangential direction. This allows the agents to move in a circular path around the central square. This was important to my concept, as it transforms a typical flocking system into a structured, collective movement organized around a focal point.
Sketch
Milestone
https://youtube.com/shorts/Aij4knx0vcE?feature=share
- Here I was exploring how a flocking system could revolve around a central structure. I combined basic flocking behaviors with a simple orbit force to create circular movement. At this stage, the system is intentionally minimal, focusing on testing the core idea before adding complexity like time-based changes or refined visuals.
https://youtube.com/shorts/de8Qt2qCW88?feature=share
- In this video, I wanted to highlight the interaction of dragging the mouse to generate agents in the system. As more agents are added, the movement becomes slower and more dense. This reflects how, in Umrah, movement naturally slows down as the crowd becomes more crowded, creating a more compressed and collective flow.
Challenge
One of the main challenges in this project was balancing control and emergence. While flocking systems are naturally unpredictable, I needed the agents to consistently move in a circular path around the central square without losing the organic quality of the motion. Another challenge was achieving the right level of simplicity in the visuals, ensuring the system remained clear and readable without becoming overly complex or decorative.
Reflection and ideas for future work or improvements
I developed a better understanding of how simple rules can produce complex and meaningful collective behavior. I learned how to balance structure and emergence. For future work, I would explore making the movement more varied and responsive, such as introducing different types of agents or layering multiple rings of circulation.