Evo-Bots: A Simple, Stochastic Approach to Self-assembling Artificial Organisms

This paper describes an alternative path towards artificial life-one by which simple modular robots with novel hybrid motion control are used to represent artificial organisms. We outline conceptually how such a system would work, and present a partial hardware implementation. The hardware, a set of self-reconfigurable modules called the evo-bots, operates on an air table. The modules use a stop-start anchor mechanism to either rest ormove. In the latter case, they undergo semi-random motion. The modules can search for, harvest and exchange energy. In addition, they can self-assemble, and thereby form compound structures. Six prototypes of the evo-bot modules were built. We experimentally demonstrate their key functions, namely hybrid motion control, energy harvesting and sharing, and simple structure formation.