Modeling the evolution of coordinated movement strategies using digital organisms

Abstract

Intelligence is a fundamental characteristic of living beings. Even the simplest organisms exhibit intelligent behaviors in their routine actions. There are various levels of problems in computational science where evolutionary computation shows great potential for finding optimal or near-optimal solutions to problems that defy traditional analytical approaches. In line with this, an advanced problem associated with the evolution of movement in biological communities is examined here. We used the Avida digital life platform to explore the evolution of movements in model environments with a fixed landmark. Three prevailing movement strategies that emerged, Cockroach, Ziggurat, and Climber, show how both environmental constraints and movement coordination play a role in the emergence of intelligent behavior.