Wanted to raise this subject again. What I am thinking is just adding a very (very!) small amount of random turning force in a random direction each cycle. The strength of the force would be proportional to the Brownian motion slider value and would just be part of browniam motion I.e. bots would forever stay aligned in the same direction in a sim with no brownian motion unless they initiated their own turns or had torque applied via a tie.
There is already code in place which reduces angular momentum over time as a function of surface friction or fluid resistance. Thus, the greater the friction or fluid viscosity, the more damping force is applied to turning momentum, be it acquired via tie torque, brownian motion or (in the future) off-center collisions with bots or other objects. I would scale the brownian turning force such that just about any level of friction or fluid viscosity would prevent continual spinning. Orientantions would change slowly over time, but bots would not freewheel due to my adding brownian turning forces.
As I write this, it is raining here in Seattle (big surprise). Raindrops are splashing down into the bird bath outside my window. Pine needles and leaves and thoise little maple seed pods have been blown into the water and the random splashing and drop action moves them about randomly. Even as I watch, their orientation is changing, spinning slowly first one way then another. All I ask is my evo bots be afforded the same access to realistic mixing forces as those pine needles floating outside my window...
Please chime in if you have strong opinions.
