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abstract: |-
JohnnyVon is an implementation of self-replicating machines 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.
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creators_name:
- family: Smith
given: Arnold
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- family: Turney
given: Peter
honourific: ''
lineage: ''
- family: Ewaschuk
given: Robert
honourific: ''
lineage: ''
date: 2003
date_type: published
datestamp: 2003-04-16
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dir: disk0/00/00/28/88
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lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:55:15
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number: 1
pagerange: 21-40
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publication: Artificial Life
publisher: MIT Press
refereed: TRUE
referencetext: |+2
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relation_type: []
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reportno: ~
rev_number: 12
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status_changed: 2007-09-12 16:47:19
subjects:
- comp-sci-mach-dynam-sys
- bio-theory
succeeds: 2440
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title: Self-Replicating Machines in Continuous Space with Virtual Physics
type: journalp
userid: 2175
volume: 9