A framework and simulation engine for studying artificial life

The area of computer-generated artificial life-forms is a relatively recent field of inter-disciplinary study that involves mathematical modelling, physical intuition and ideas from chemistry and biology and computational science. Although the attribution of “life” to non biological systems is still controversial, several groups agree that certain emergent properties can be ascribed to computer simulated systems that can be constructed to “live” in a simulated environment. In this paper we discuss some of the issues and infrastructure necessary to construct a simulation laboratory for the study of computer generated artificial life-forms. We review possible technologies and present some preliminary studies based around simple models

An Alternative to Using Fresh Alfalfa for Culturing \u3ci\u3eColias Philodice Eurytheme\u3c/i\u3e Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Various artificial materials were implemented at each life stage of the alfalfa caterpillar, Colias philodice eurytheme Boisduval, to provide effective and economical replacements for alfalfa. Alfalfa substitutes were used for oviposition and feeding. We also developed a favorable laboratory mating environment. Also, the development of a method for removing disease organisms from eggs without increasing egg mortality was an essential facet of this work. The performance of individuals on artificial surfaces was compared with similar individuals reared on greenhouse alfalfa. Green tape oriented at the top of oviposition cages or near some object which could be held on to while ovipositing was the most successful surface. Egg yields on green tape were comparable to those on alfalfa. A dilute bleach wash followed by two water washes required little time, yet provided adequate disease control, and all larval instars thrived on artificial diet. Methods for handling pupae and new adults and the favorable mating environment reduced colony maintenance time yet sumival rates insured propagation of the colony

Enaction-Based Artificial Intelligence: Toward Coevolution with Humans in the Loop

This article deals with the links between the enaction paradigm and artificial intelligence. Enaction is considered a metaphor for artificial intelligence, as a number of the notions which it deals with are deemed incompatible with the phenomenal field of the virtual. After explaining this stance, we shall review previous works regarding this issue in terms of artifical life and robotics. We shall focus on the lack of recognition of co-evolution at the heart of these approaches. We propose to explicitly integrate the evolution of the environment into our approach in order to refine the ontogenesis of the artificial system, and to compare it with the enaction paradigm. The growing complexity of the ontogenetic mechanisms to be activated can therefore be compensated by an interactive guidance system emanating from the environment. This proposition does not however resolve that of the relevance of the meaning created by the machine (sense-making). Such reflections lead us to integrate human interaction into this environment in order to construct relevant meaning in terms of participative artificial intelligence. This raises a number of questions with regards to setting up an enactive interaction. The article concludes by exploring a number of issues, thereby enabling us to associate current approaches with the principles of morphogenesis, guidance, the phenomenology of interactions and the use of minimal enactive interfaces in setting up experiments which will deal with the problem of artificial intelligence in a variety of enaction-based ways

Space vehicle with artificial gravity and earth-like environment

A space vehicle adapted to provide an artificial gravity and earthlike atmospheric environment for occupants is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a cylindrically shaped, hollow pressure-tight body, one end of which is tapered from the largest diameter of the body, the other end is flat and transparent to sunlight. The vehicle is provided with thrust means which rotates the body about its longitudinal axis, generating an artificial gravity effect upon the interior walls of the body due to centrifugal forces. The walls of the tapered end of the body are maintained at a temperature below the dew point of water vapor in the body and lower than the temperature near the transparent end of the body. The controlled environment and sunlight permits an earth like environment to be maintained wherein the CO2/O2 is balanced, and food for the travelers is supplied through a natural system of plant life grown on spacecraft walls where soil is located

The spinning artificial gravity environment: A design project

The SAGE, or Spinning Artificial Gravity Environment, design was carried out to develop an artificial gravity space station which could be used as a platform for the performance of medical research to determine the benefits of various, fractional gravity levels for astronauts normally subject to zero gravity. Desirable both for its medical research mission and a mission for the study of closed loop life-support and other factors in prolonged space flight, SAGE was designed as a low Earth orbiting, solar powered, manned space station

Future of Augmented Reality

Today virtual reality is very popular, but it is used mostly for entertainment. In future augmented reality referred to as the integration of digital information with the user's environment in real time will be the most popular thing in the world. Referring to these definitions, unlike virtual reality, which creates a totally artificial environment, augmented reality uses the existing environment and overlays new information on the top. By this way our life can become more interesting and informative. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally manipulated information about the environment and its objects is overlaid in the real world

Beyond persons: extending the personal / subpersonal distinction to non-rational animals and artificial agents

The distinction between personal level explanations and subpersonal ones has been subject to much debate in philosophy. We understand it as one between explanations that focus on an agent’s interaction with its environment, and explanations that focus on the physical or computational enabling conditions of such an interaction. The distinction, understood this way, is necessary for a complete account of any agent, rational or not, biological or artificial. In particular, we review some recent research in Artificial Life that pretends to do completely without the distinction, while using agent-centered concepts all the way. It is argued that the rejection of agent level explanations in favour of mechanistic ones is due to an unmotivated need to choose among representationalism and eliminativism. The dilemma is a false one if the possibility of a radical form of externalism is considered