"An Overview of Artificial Life with a Focus on Genetic Algorithms and Genetic Programming"
Scott Cameron 2001
Abstract
The objective of this project is to explore the field of Artificial Life. This exploration entails three major parts. The first part is a discussion of the history of Artificial Life and an inventory of some of the most interesting “successful” examples of Artificial Life. The second part of the project is the implementation of some of the simpler “successful” Artificial Life projects. The first two sections discuss and provide implementations of Langton Loops, Cellular Automata, Lindenmayer Systems, Genetic Algorithms and Genetic Programming. The third part is an implementation and discussion of a larger single Artificial Life project that breeds Genetic Images. Screen shots are taken from the author's applications.
Langton’s loops have been compared to coral because each new generation builds upon the husks of the generation before. The “colony” eventually grows so large that it takes up the entire environment space.
Two of Lindenmayer’s graduate students, Ben Hesper and Pauline Hogeweg, realized that L-Systems could do more than simply model things like the growth patterns of algae. Hesper and Hogeweg felt that L-Systems could be used to actually generate images that resembled botanic forms [Prusinkiewicz, et al, 1989].
The Genetic Images Application implemented for this project combines the power of Genetic Programming with the human ability to recognize beauty to create computer-generated images that are beautiful and interesting. The application’s concept is based upon the work of Karl Sims [Sims, 1991].
Two Genetic Images Chosen to Mate
Population Resulting from Crossover Operation
Detailed Images of Four Children Produced from Crossover Operation