Abstract

As outlined in my recent paper [1], the field of evolutionary computing is entering a new phase as evolutionary algorithms that take place in hardware are developed, opening up new avenues towards autonomous machines that can adapt to their environment. In this talk I discuss a vision and a research programme about artificial evolution in physical, rather than digital, spaces. I outline the concept of EvoSphere, a robotic ecosystem that evolves in real space and real time and review on-going activities towards the first proof-of-concept implementation. I argue that constructing systems of self-reproducing machines will lead to a new, exciting mix of evolutionary computing, robotics, and artificial life with new challenges and opportunities. Meanwhile, it will also raise fundamental questions regarding the ethics and the social impacts of this future technology.

[1] A.E. Eiben and J. Smith, From evolutionary computation to the evolution of things, Nature, 521:476-482, 2015