Genetic algorithms and evolutionary programming

Is anyone else here interested in this subject?

For those who don't know, the concept uses the model of evolution as a means of programming the solution to a problem. It has very wide appeal for A.I. and neural networks.

The basic way it works is to start with an encoding system ("chromosone sequences") for behavioral components and functions, fill it up with random values, then start to play the artificial selection game.

Example:
1. Generate 100 chromosone sequences at random, each representing a program that can be run.
2. Let them all run, and evaluate how well they perform the desired task.
3. Take the two best results and use them as parents for the next generation.
4. Use those two to generate 100 more sequences using mutation and crossover.
5. Repeat until you have a "good" solution.

I found this site to be a good introduction to the concepts. I've been using this idea to code a game/educational program that generates 3D artificial life-forms that learn to adapt intelligently to their environment. It's kind of scary once it starts to actually work!

Studied them for 3 years. Meh. And I've not heard the term "chromosone sequence" used before, it's usually referred to as a "genotype".

Yeah, I looked into that after I programed my "pseudo-genetics" evolutionary thing with the cells. Never actually did anything with it tho =/

What is it you're trying to do with it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by arby

Yeah, I looked into that after I programed my "pseudo-genetics" evolutionary thing with the cells. Never actually did anything with it tho =/

What is it you're trying to do with it?

---

I've got a few applications in mind, each with some startup effort already in place. One is a 3D game with evolving organisms and an environment building tool. I also have two separate ideas involving evolving music programs... details to come!

That's what I'm doing.

here is a great video about it.. =O

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by arby

here is a great video about it.. =O

---

The video is no longer available. (Three whole minutes after you posted it!)

Weird...

heres a link to another version of it

Good video, though the speaker could use a little work on his presentation, and possibly a valium.

This touches on some of the things I'm contemplating and working on, though I do take a bit of a different approach and implementation.

Yeah, I was pretty fascinated with GA's for a while when I first learned of them. GA's have a pretty interesting potential for applications in art.

Neural networks were another pretty cool learning experience for me.

I'm very interested in Neural Networks as well, but haven't studied them much. I think I want to learn more about them to maybe use some of the ideas in my creature application.

I saw that video not too long ago and i've been very facinated about neural networks and implementing them into my 2D game engine. I tried to create a smart chat bot. But the problem was I used text files to organize the data, and I still havent found a reliable/efficent way to store the data. I could make the bot read sentences and understand them (to a point) but i couldent make it form them. (It could only talk about pizza because that was what i had taught it) But i gave up due to the complexity