Mean-field limit for collective behavior models with sharp sensitivity regions

Abstract

We rigorously show the mean-field limit for a large class of swarming individual based models with local sharp sensitivity regions. For instance, these models include nonlocal repulsive-attractive forces locally averaged over sharp vision cones and Cucker–Smale interactions with discontinuous communication weights.We define global-in-time solutions through a differential inclusion system corresponding to the particle descriptions. We estimate the error between the solutions to the differential inclusion system and weak solutions to the expected limiting kinetic equation by employing tools from optimal transport theory. Quantitative bounds on the expansion of the 1-Wasserstein distance along flows based on a weak-strong stability estimate are obtained. We also provide various examples of realistic sensitivity sets satisfying the assumptions of our main results.