Emulating microbial run-and-tumble and tactic motion by stochastically reorienting synthetic active Brownian particles

Replicating efficient and adaptable microbial navigation strategies, such as run and tumble (RnT) and tactic motions to synthetic active agents has been an enduring quest. To this end, we introduce a stochastic orientational reset (SOR) protocol, in which the propulsion direction of an active Brownian particle (ABP) is reassigned to a random orientation within a defined reset-cone. When the reset-cone is aligned with the instantaneous propulsion direction, ABPs reproduce the RnT dynamics of E. coli; when set along an attractant gradient, they exhibit taxis - with extensive adaptability in persistence through the angular width of the reset-cone and reset rate. We establish the robustness of this protocol across a broad range of swimming speeds using experiments, simulations, and analytical theory.