This monograph is the fifteenth in the Integrative Cybernetics Technical Monograph Series, continuing the extension of the series beyond the initial ten monographs toward thirty. It addresses system drift during coordination—the gradual deviation of internal systems from previously aligned, synchronized, and translated states during ongoing coordination. The work systematically defines system drift as the process by which multiple internal systems gradually deviate from a previously coordinated state due to accumulated variations in timing, signal structure, or activation patterns. Drift is incremental, continuous, and often initially undetectable; over time, small deviations become significant and coordination degrades. System drift functions as the degradation mechanism of coordination, determining how coordination weakens over time, how stability windows close, and how systems move away from aligned states. Drift is not an external failure but an internal evolution of system states. The mechanism of system drift emerges through cumulative deviation processes. Temporal Drift involves activation timing gradually shifting, making synchronization less precise and reducing overlap windows. Signal Distortion involves signal structure changing slightly over time, decreasing translation accuracy and reducing signal clarity. Activation Imbalance involves system activation levels diverging, with some systems increasing activity while others decrease, creating imbalance in coordination contribution. Accumulation Effect involves drift compounding over time, with small deviations adding up and system states diverging significantly. System interaction produces drift through Drift Propagation (deviation in one system affects others, causing misalignment to spread and coordination to weaken across systems), Asymmetric Drift (systems drift at different rates, producing uneven coordination degradation and localized instability), and Feedback Degradation (feedback loops lose accuracy, making correction signals less effective and accelerating drift). Failure conditions include Uncontrolled Drift Accumulation (deviations exceed tolerance levels, causing coordination collapse), Drift-Induced Misalignment (systems move out of compatibility, causing signal conflict), Drift Amplification (feedback loops increase deviation, causing rapid instability), and Stability Window Exhaustion (drift closes stability windows, causing coordination to be unsustainable). Drift remains controlled when continuous drift correction allows systems to actively realign, balanced system adjustment ensures all systems adjust proportionally, feedback accuracy maintenance keeps feedback loops effective, and limited drift accumulation keeps deviations within acceptable bounds. System drift affects duration of coordination, stability of interaction, and reliability of system behavior. Low drift produces stable coordination; high drift produces rapid degradation. In the Integrative Cybernetics framework, system drift during coordination represents the gradual divergence mechanism within coordinated systems, defining how coordination weakens over time. Coordination does not break instantly; it drifts. System drift determines how long coordination can be sustained and when it begins to fall apart.
Kanna Amresh (Mon,) studied this question.