Computational Evolutionary Embryogeny

Evolutionary and developmental processes are used to evolve the configurations of 3-D structures in silico to achieve desired performances. Natural systems utilize the combination of both evolution and development processes to produce remarkable performance and diversity. However, this approach has not yet been applied extensively to the design of continuous 3-D load-supporting structures. Beginning with a single artificial cell containing information analogous to a DNA sequence, a structure is grown according to the rules encoded in the sequence. Each artificial cell in the structure contains the same sequence of growth and development rules, and each artificial cell is an element in a finite element mesh representing the structure of the mature individual. Rule sequences are evolved over many generations through selection and survival of individuals in a population. Modularity and symmetry are visible in nearly every natural and engineered structure. An understanding of the evolution and expression of symmetry and modularity is emerging from recent biological research. Initial evidence of these attributes is present in the phenotypes that are developed from the artificial evolution, although neither characteristic is imposed nor selected-for directly. The computational evolutionary development approach presented here shows promise for synthesizing novel configurations of high-performance systems. The approach may advance the system design to a new paradigm, where current design strategies have difficulty producing useful solutions

行動ルールの進化・適応を考慮した社会システムのモデル化と分析

学位の種別: 論文博士審査委員会委員 : （主査）東京大学教授 大橋 弘, 東京大学准教授 白山 晋, 東京大学講師 藤井 秀, 東京大学教授 古田 一, 東京大学准教授 陳 昱University of Tokyo(東京大学

Using MapReduce Streaming for Distributed Life Simulation on the Cloud

Distributed software simulations are indispensable in the study of large-scale life models but often require the use of technically complex lower-level distributed computing frameworks, such as MPI. We propose to overcome the complexity challenge by applying the emerging MapReduce (MR) model to distributed life simulations and by running such simulations on the cloud. Technically, we design optimized MR streaming algorithms for discrete and continuous versions of Conway’s life according to a general MR streaming pattern. We chose life because it is simple enough as a testbed for MR’s applicability to a-life simulations and general enough to make our results applicable to various lattice-based a-life models. We implement and empirically evaluate our algorithms’ performance on Amazon’s Elastic MR cloud. Our experiments demonstrate that a single MR optimization technique called strip partitioning can reduce the execution time of continuous life simulations by 64%. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to propose and evaluate MR streaming algorithms for lattice-based simulations. Our algorithms can serve as prototypes in the development of novel MR simulation algorithms for large-scale lattice-based a-life models.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/scs_books/1014/thumbnail.jp

N.: Environment as a spatial constraint on the growth of structural form

We explore the use of the developmental environment as a spatial constraint on a model of Artificial Embryogeny, applied to the growth of structural forms. A Deva model is used to translate genotype to phenotype, allowing a Genetic Algorithm to evolve Plane Trusses. Genomes are expressed in one of several developmental environments, and selected using a fitness function favouring stability, height, and distribution of pressure. Positive results are found in nearly all cases, demonstrating that environment can be used as an effective spatial constraint on development. Further experiments take genomes evolved in some environment and transplant them into different environments, or re-grow them at different phenotypic sizes; It is shown that while some genomes are highly specialized for the particular environment in which they evolved, others may be re-used in a different context without significant re-design, retaining the majority of their original utility. This strengthens the notion that growth via Artificial Embryogeny can be resistant to perturbations in environment, and that good designs may be re-used in a variety of contexts