Penguins huddles aren't the only shape-shifting animal grouping -- other biological masses have dynamics that can be modeled like fluids, said Blanchette. He points to colonies of bacteria that change shape in response to food or toxins.
In addition, the model could be programmed into robots who need to swarm and huddle to survive.
"Imagine a group of robots caught in a sandstorm, and they might want to rotate who is exposed," Blanchette said. A biology-based model could prescribe behavior to maximize survival for a group faced with a nasty environmental situation.