Editing Quorum sensing (section)

==Computing and robotics==
Quorum sensing can be a useful tool for improving the function of self-organizing networks such as the SECOAS (Self-Organizing Collegiate Sensor) [[environmental monitoring]] system. In this system, individual nodes sense that there is a population of other nodes with similar data to report. The population then nominates just one node to report the data, resulting in power savings.<ref>{{cite conference |last1=Britton |first1=Matthew |last2=Sacks |first2=Lionel |title=The SECOAS Project: development of a self-organising, wireless sensor network for environmental monitoring |conference=International Workshop on Sensor and Actor Network Protocols and Applications |date=22 August 2004 |pages=1–7 |hdl=2440/66361 |url=http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/projects/secoas/papers/SANPA-2004-Britton.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216223909/http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/projects/secoas/papers/SANPA-2004-Britton.pdf |archive-date=2008-12-16 }}</ref> Ad hoc wireless networks can also benefit from quorum sensing, by allowing the system to detect and respond to network conditions.<ref>{{cite conference | vauthors = Peysakhov M, Regli W |book-title=Proceedings 2005 IEEE Swarm Intelligence Symposium, 2005. SIS 2005 |conference=Swarm Intelligence Symposium, Proceedings 2005 IEEE |year=2005 |pages=357–64 |title=Ant inspired server population management in a service-based computing environment |doi=10.1109/SIS.2005.1501643 |isbn=0-7803-8916-6}}</ref>

Quorum sensing can also be used to coordinate the behavior of autonomous robot swarms. Using a process similar to that used by ''Temnothorax'' ants, robots can make rapid group decisions without the direction of a controller.<ref>{{cite conference | vauthors = Sahin E, Franks N |title=Measurement of Space: From Ants to Robots |book-title=Proceedings of WGW 2002: EPSRC/BBSRC International Workshop |year= 2002 |citeseerx = 10.1.1.161.6407 }}</ref>

Despite recent advancements, the true nature of these back-and-forth conversations remains a mystery, and further rigorous research targeting inter- and intra- species communication is still necessary to maximize knowledge of quorum sensing and its potential to improve research and treatments of cancer and bacterial diseases. The code to understanding these complex bacterial languages is to decipher the impact of the words.<ref name=":6" />