Spector, Lee, Jon Klein, and Mark Feinstein. “Division blocks and the open-ended evolution of development, form, and behavior.” In Proceedings of the 9th annual conference on genetic and evolutionary computation , pp. 316-323. 2007.
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We present a new framework for artificial life involving physically simulated, three-dimensional blocks called Division Blocks. Division Blocks can grow and shrink, divide and form joints, exert forces on joints, and exchange resources. They are controlled by recurrent neural networks that evolve, along with the blocks, by natural selection. Division Blocks are simulated in an environment in which energy is approximately conserved, and in which all energy derives ultimately from a simulated sun via photosynthesis. In this paper we describe our implementation of Division Blocks and some of the ways that it can support experiments on the open-ended evolution of development, form, and behavior. We also present preliminary data from simulations, demonstrating the reliable emergence of cooperative resource transactions.