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%A Arnold Smith %A Peter Turney %A Robert Ewaschuk %T JohnnyVon: Self-Replicating Automata in Continuous Two-Dimensional Space %X JohnnyVon is an implementation of self-replicating automata in continuous two-dimensional space. Two types of particles drift about in a virtual liquid. The particles are automata with discrete internal states but continuous external relationships. Their internal states are governed by finite state machines but their external relationships are governed by a simulated physics that includes brownian motion, viscosity, and spring-like attractive and repulsive forces. The particles can be assembled into patterns that can encode arbitrary strings of bits. We demonstrate that, if an arbitrary ?seed? pattern is put in a ?soup? of separate individual particles, the pattern will replicate by assembling the individual particles into copies of itself. We also show that, given sufficient time, a soup of separate individual particles will eventually spontaneously form self-replicating patterns. We discuss the implications of JohnnyVon for research in nanotechnology, theoretical biology, and artificial life. %D 2002 %K self-replication, mobile automata, virtual physics, continuous space automata %I National Research Council Canada %L cogprints2440