ALIFE: Using robots to model early invertebrate behavior

From: Technotranscendence (neptune@mars.superlink.net)
Date: Sun Sep 10 2000 - 13:30:54 MDT


_Artificial Life_ 3(4) contains a very interesting and not technically
difficult article on using robots to imitate early invertebrate behavior.
The article is "A Robot Trace Maker: Modeling the Fossil Evidence of Early
Invertebrate Behavior" by Tony J. Prescott and Carl Ibboston.

Prescott and Ibboston used a lego robot with some modifications that trails
toilet paper behind it to mimic the sort of fossil trails we find of
primitive lifeforms. It's amazing that by just changing a few parameters,
they were able to match many different types of trails noted in the fossil
record. Of course, this match shouldn't be taken to mean these ancient
lifeforms behaved the same way, but the fit is notable.

Cheers!

Daniel Ust
http://uweb.superlink.net/neptune/



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