Emergence of coherent motion in aggregates of motile coupled maps

► A minimal model of motile particles with adjustable intrinsic steering is presented. ► Collective motion emerges due to self-adaptation of each particle's intrinsic state. ► Adaptation is achieved by a map which behavior ranges from periodic to chaotic. ► Higher cohesion occurs in a balanced combination of ordered and chaotic motion. ► Exhibits an abrupt change in degree of coherence as a function of particle density.