Predator robots are evolving at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne; they are learning from the prey robots, natch. Darwinian selection, which was good enough for us, turns out to be good enough for them as well.
Just a few hundred generations of selection are sufficient to allow robots to evolve collision-free movement, homing, sophisticated predator versus prey strategies, coadaptation of brains and bodies, cooperation, and even altruism. In all cases this occurred via selection in robots controlled by a simple neural network, which mutated randomly.
(Predator, Prey robots evolve with each other)
Although the idea of evolving robots has been around for a while, we can watch anew what happens when robots are given a little help along the evolutionary path. Take the precursor series Caprica, for example. Did human beings help bring the Cylons into existence? Say it ain't so.
(Caprica video log)
The researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale have a choice to make - let's hope they make it wisely.
(Zoe from Caprica - the choice is made)
From Crunchgear; thanks to Moira for the tip and references for this story.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/3/2010)
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
Illustrating Classic Heinlein With AI
'Stasis, cold sleep, hibernation, hypothermia, reduced metabolism, call it what you will - the logistics-medicine research teams had found a way to stack people like cordwood and use them when needed.'
Deflector Plasma Screen For Drones ala Star Wars
'If the enemy persists in attacking or even intensifies their power, the density of the plasma in space will suddenly increase, causing it to reflect most of the incoming energy like a mirror.'