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How do ants deal with traffic jams?

09.10.2009

Entomologist Dirk Helbing from Dresden (Germany) simulated the formation of traffic jams on ants. He placed a feeder with sugar syrup near the anthill, and then laid several paths from it to the anthill, scratching them with a stick on the ground layer of fallen leaves and needles.

The ants found the shortest route a few hours later, and it nearly got stuck. It would have arisen, but "traffic policemen" suddenly appeared, who blocked access to the crowded "highway" with their bodies.

And the ants, thirsty for sugar, were forced to "take a detour" along less convenient roads. Then the block was removed from the short road, and normal traffic was restored.

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STMicroelectronics' new ST25R3918 is a multi-purpose NFC reader that supports point-to-point communication, NFC card emulation mode, and NFC reader operation. Supporting NFC-A and NFC-F card emulation, the reader can be used as an NFC-A/B card reader (ISO 14443A/B), as an NFC-V card reader (ISO 15693) up to 53Kbps, and as a passive initiator and target in accordance with ISO 18092. Card emulation mode allows you to support the latest features available on mobile phones.

End users can use their phones to easily interact with applications that use this product, including launching the desired application on the phone by holding it close to the device with the ST25R3918 inside. Device programming and simple data transfer in NDEF format is also possible. In addition, users can use special streaming and transparent analog interface (AFE) modes to implement other custom protocols in card readers and emulators.

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Additional features include support for dynamic output power (DPO), which automatically controls field strength to meet required limits. In addition, active waveforming (AWS) smoothes the waveform for better signal integrity.

The ST25R3918 operates over a wide range of supply voltages from 2,6V to 5,5V and temperatures from -40 to 85°C.

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