Improving and Still Passing the ALife Test: Component-Normalised Activity Statistics Classify Evolution in Geb as Unbounded

Alastair Channon
Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering
Anglesea Road, University of Portsmouth, PO1 3DJ. UK
alastair@channon.net http://www.channon.net/alastair1

Abstract:

Bedau's   classification system for long-term evolutionary dynamics provides a test for open-ended evolution. Making this ALife test more rigorous, and passing it, are two of the most important open problems in the field. Previously I presented the result that `Geb',  a system designed to verify and extend theories behind the generation of evolutionary emergent systems, has passed this test. However I also criticised the test, most significantly with regard to its normalisation method for artificial systems. This paper details a modified normalisation method, based on component activity normalisation, that overcomes these criticisms. It then presents the results of the revised test when applied to Geb, which indicate that this system does indeed exhibit open-ended evolution. 



Footnotes

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Source code and instructions for replicating the runs discussed in this paper are available from the author's home page.


Russell Standish
2002-11-13