Evolved Virtual Creatures

Karl Sims

Evolved Virtual Creatures ,
Co-workers & Funding
Genetische Kunst, Co-Worker: Sonya Rapoport
Mnemosyne
Last updated:
Documents
  • Evolved Virtual Creatures
    image/jpeg
    200 × 160
Description
This video shows results from a research project involving simulated Darwinian evolutions of virtual block creatures. A population of several hundred creatures is created within a supercomputer, and each creature is tested for their ability to perform a given task, such the ability to swim in a simulated water environment. Those that are most successful survive, and their virtual genes containing coded instructions for their growth, are copied, combined, and mutated to make offspring for a new population. The new creatures are again tested, and some may be improvements on their parents. As this cycle of variation and selection continues, creatures with more and more successful behaviors can emerge.

The creatures shown are results from many independent simulations in which they were selected for swimming, walking, jumping, following, and competing for control of a green cube.
Karl Sims
Keywords
  • aesthetics
    • processual
    • virtual
    • visual
  • genres
    • bioart
      • genetic art
  • subjects
    • Body and Psychology
      • genetics
Technology & Material
Exhibitions & Events
Video-Math-Festival
Art and Aesthetics of Artificial Life
Bibliography
2 publications