Hyperbolicity and nonconservativity of a hydrodynamic model of swarming rigid bodies

Abstract

We study a nonlinear system of first order partial differential equations describing the macroscopic behavior of an ensemble of interacting self-propelled rigid bodies. Such system may be relevant for the modelling of bird flocks, fish schools or fleets of drones. We show that the system is hyperbolic and can be approximated by a conservative system through relaxation. We also derive viscous corrections to the model from the hydrodynamic limit of a kinetic model. This analysis prepares the future development of numerical approximations of this system.