Artificial Life Models in Software

This book presents software tools, environments and realities dealing with creation, imitation and analysis of artefactual, virtual, and living forms, written by those who personally design and produce software, hardware, and art installations in artificial life, simulated complex systems, and virtual worlds. This timely volume offers a nearly exhaustive overview and original analysis of major non-profit artificial life software packages. Topics include: simulation of real and imaginary life forms and their evolution self-organization emergent behaviours swarm intelligence evolutionary robotics agent-based simulations adaptive, complex and biologically inspired ecosystems creative computer art There has long been a need within the academic and research community for an informal introduction and guidance to modern software tools for modeling and simulation of life-like phenomena – this book fills this gap and offers detailed reviews of contemporary software for artificial life for both professionals and amateurs.

Artificial Life Models in Software provides an introduction and guide to modern software tools for modeling and simulating life-like phenomena, written by those who personally design and develop software, hardware, and art installations in artificial life, simulated complex systems and virtual worlds.

This timely volume offers a nearly exhaustive overview and original analysis of major non-profit software packages that are actively developed and supported by experts in artificial life and software design. The carefully selected topics include:

· simulation and evolution of real and artificial life forms,

· natural and artificial morphogenesis,

· self-organization,

· models of communication and social behaviors,

· emergent collective behaviors and swarm intelligence,

· agent-based simulations,

· autonomous and evolutionary robotics,

· adaptive, complex and biologically inspired ecosystems,

· artificial chemistries,

· creative computer art.

The models of life presented here are essential components in undergraduate and post-graduate courses in complex adaptive systems, multi-agent systems, collective robotics and nature-inspired computing. Readers interested in artificial life, evolutionary biology, simulation, cybernetics, computer graphics and animation, neuroscience, cognitive science, and philosophy will find this monograph a valuable guide and an excellent resource for supplementary reading.