LOCAL ALIGNMENT

Released units establish sufficient relation for coordinated work.

Alignment does not require sameness.

Units may differ in position, orientation, capability, or task while remaining sufficiently related to operate together.

ALIGNMENT ≠ UNIFORMITY

After release, the flock encounters the field locally.

Each unit need not possess a complete representation of the whole field. It must establish the relations necessary for its bounded operation.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE ≠ GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE

Alignment may concern position, distance, orientation, sequence, material condition, neighboring units, or the requirements of the work.

Only the relations consequential to execution need be resolved.

SUFFICIENT ALIGNMENT ≠ TOTAL RESOLUTION

A unit does not acquire authority from alignment.

Nor does agreement among units convert an unknown condition into a known one.

CONSENSUS ≠ CONSTITUTED FACT

Where conditions remain unresolved, the unresolved condition remains distinguishable.

Where sufficient relation exists, coordinated work may proceed.

Different portions of the flock may therefore align at different times and to different local conditions.

COMMON WORK ≠ IDENTICAL POSITION

The flock acquires operative coherence without becoming a single object.

RELEASE → LOCAL ALIGNMENT → DISTRIBUTED WORK

Alignment establishes enough shared bearing for bounded units to work together without requiring them to become the same.