🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <C0ICnz.o6@world.std.com> lains@world.std.com (Layne L Ainsworth) writes:
>Has anyone tried to do this: 
>
>"Herds" of cheap (really cheap), reprogrammable robots, each loaded
>with one set of the test "chromosome" population of a Genetic
>Algorithm system. They could be evaluated to optimize indivdual
>performance, or "hive" well-being.  Each "generation" would be the
>same robots, with a new generation of "chromosomes" on board.

Larry Yaegar (sorry if I butchered the last name!) at apple (larryy@apple.com
is his address if memory serves) has a wonderful simulation that runs on
SGI machines.  It falls most squarely under the category of Artificial Life,
since the evolving creatures are implicitly rewarded for survival and 
reproduction (i.e., they must feed, defend themselves, and mate while others
around them do the same) rather than being rewarded for an explicit externally
imposed fitness function.  Different genotypes evolve, each with their own
niche.  Most go extinct fairly rapidly, some flourish.  Very visual, this work
will probably be published in the forthcoming Artificial Life III procedings
and the software can be obtained from Larry Yaegar (I think).

On a less visual (but more supervised) note John Koza and James Rice have
done work with emergent behavior of ants (see ALife-2 proceedings & video, and
 JK's new book "Genetic Programming," and the accompanying video by Koza & 
Rice.).  Also see work by Collins & Jefferson (also in ALife3) and Rob Collins
dissertation, available via ftp from UCLA/cognet.

-walter alden tackett

Disclaimer: "My employers are responsible for the contents of this letter 
             because I secretly control their thoughts."