Limb-Roller - Evolved Virtual Creature

Most of the previous creatures seem to have relied upon the oscillator primitives that were supplied as primitive building blocks for their brains. Oscillators generate sine-wave values that they use to provide a back-and-forth rhythm for movement.

In this experiment I decided not to supply oscillators in the list of available brain components. This was a small population (20 creatures) and it ran for about 1074 generations. Still, it managed to find a way to move without oscillators. Also, it's very clearly using its contact sensors to trigger winding and unwinding of its limbs. This is the first creature where I've been quite certain the contact sensors are being put to use.

The project web page is:
http://www.stellaralchemy.com/lee/virtual_creatures.html

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• 3D
• virtual
• creature
• evolution
• genetic
• algorithm

[BeyCuber]

hey, do you think you could give me the link to the end over end worm type thing, except they did a really cool spiny thing somewhere in the video.

[kjlg74]

You know, it's about time that I finally made the end-over-end worm creatures available for download! I'm going to go do that now.

I can't seem to find the specific one you're talking about at the moment (the "alien worm") but I'm going to post the original end-over-end worm. Watch for a new video soon - it will have download links in the description.

[BeyCuber]

@kjlg74 ok, thanks. i just found the video with the spining worm guy though :P. its awesome. cant wait for the download.

[kjlg74]

If I find it, I'll post up a video + download link just like I did today :)

[Yumminess0]

so the oscillators are the sign wave output/input brain values?

[kjlg74]

exactly

[BeyCuber]

@kjlg74 yay ^-^

[deepm0e]

It does seem to move a bit more like an actual animal than most other creatures of the same kind, not quite as mekanical.

[kjlg74]

No problem about the questions. Ask away :)

The "oscillators" are basic components that creatures can use in their control systems (if allowed by the user). They generate signals that rise and fall over time according to a sine function. From what I've seen so far, they seem to allow quick evolution of useful repetitive movements, but without oscillators the creatures are forces to deal more "intelligently" with their environment.

[belliebum12]

So exactly what do the oscillators do? I'm sorry about all of the questions, but this is a very interesting program and I was thinking about getting a copy once I upgrade my hard drive.