Monday, May 09, 2022
Links for "Self-Reproduction and Open-Ended Evolution" Lecture
Cornell Creative Machines Lab: Self replication
Soft Robotics Evolution
An implementation of Von Neumann's Self_reproducing Automata. See Modifications by Tim Hutton.
Self-Reproducing Loops: from Langton's to Evoloop. Hiroki Sayama's Website and demos.
Self-reproducing loops
Langton's Loop Applet .
Self-reproducing Xenobots.
autocatalytic networks
Lack of evolvability in self-sustaining autocatalytic networks
Darwinian properties and their trade-offs in autocatalytic RNA reaction networks
Labels: #Brenner, #open-endedEvolution, #self-reproduction, #Turing, #VonNeumann, Class Links
Full Lecture Notes: Evolutionary Systems

Labels: #evolution, #evolutionaryalgorithms, #selfOrganization, #Semioticclosure, #Semiotics
Monday, May 02, 2022
New Lecture Notes: Chapter 6 - Von Neumann and Natural Selection

Labels: #cellularAutomata, #Darwin, #evolution, #infomation, #Mendel, #self-reproduction, #Turing, #VonNeumann
links for "Immune System" lecture
Immune System
Overview of the Immune System
Immunology movies at Cells Alive!
An Interpretative Introduction to the Immune System. by S. A. Hofmeyr.
Immunology as information processing. by S. Forrest and S. A. Hofmeyr.
Labels: #adaptiveImmunity, #ArtificialImmuneSystems, #immunesystem, Class Links
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
links for Collective Behavior and Swarms lectures
Chemotaxis, Stigmergy, Termites and Ant Clustering and Sorting
Artificial Termites.
Mitchel Resnick
Ant-like task allocation and recruitment in cooperative robots
Cells Solving mazes and optimal paths
Self-generated gradients of chemicals and physical tension, cells in the body steer themselves to vital destinations.
Swarm Robotics @ Bristol Robotics Laboratory.
NetLogo
Artificial Ecosystems
Michael Conrad's Work
PolyWorld
Sim Life and Spore (More on Spore).
Collective Behavior
Boids
Boids Demo. Experiment with different interaction ruleson another demo.
Javascript for Boids. Implementing boids in Python.
EPFL Laboratory for Intelligent Systems
A Swarm of One Thousand Robots
Particle Swarm Optimization
Particle Swarm Optimization Paper by Kennedy and Eberhart..
Particle Swarm Optimization Demos.
Particle Swarm Optimization Visualization by Axel Thevenot.
Software Resources for PSO. PySwarm (Python code). Tutorial for coding PSO in Python.
PSO for prediction of protein-ligand interaction
Ant Colony Optimization Resources
Ant Colony Optimization Demo

Swarm-bots
Collective Robotic Intelligence Project (CRIP)
Braitenberg (reactive) Vehicles. A simulation of Braitenberg Vehicles.
Swarm Paintings and a conceptual update (using pheromone fields by Vitorino Ramos).
IdMind. Leonel Moura's robot art including RAP (Robot Action Painter).
Collective Dynamics
Dirk Helbing's Videos and Simulations
Traffic Dynamics in Urban Road Networks and Simulation of Multi-lane traffic. A video with stop-and.go dynamics
Mexican Wave
Simulate Escape Panic. Crowd Turbulence
Labels: #AntClusteringAlgorithm, #ants, #Artificialecology, #boids, #ClassLinks, #collectivebehavior, #flocking, #ParticleSwarmOptimization, #Swarms
Monday, April 11, 2022
Lecture Notes Chapter 5: Life is Stranger than Fiction
Labels: #ArtificialLife, #biocomplexity, #biology, #genetics, #genomics
Lecture Notes (Chapter 4): Self-organization and emergent complex behavior
Labels: #DynamicalSystems, #evolvability, #geneRegulation, #robustness, #self-organization
Links for "Evolutionary Algorithms" Lectures
Introduction to Genetic Algorithms
Illustrating Evolutionary Computation with Mathematica
Genetic Algorithm Tutorial with Java Code
Simple Genetic Algorithm in NetLogo
Genetic Algorithm Walkers
PyGAD - Python Genetic Algorithm and paper with details
The Golem Project Genetic Programming Resources
Annual "Humies" Awards For Human-Competitive Results Produced By Genetic And Evolutionary Computation
Eureqa: a software tool for detecting equations and hidden mathematical relationships in data. Older version.
gplearn: Genetic Programming in Python
Biomorph demo and Python code
Biomorph Demo
Icosystem - The Hunch Engine™
From Artificial Evolution to Artificial Life (1999), Tim Taylor's PhD Dissertation. Check his overview of open-ended evolution.
BEACON: Center for the Study of Evolution in Action. biologists, computer scientists, and engineers study evolution as it happens and apply this knowledge to solve real-world problems.
Labels: #Biomorphs, #evolution, #evolutionaryalgorithms, #evolutionaryComputation, #geneticAlgorithms, Class Links
Thursday, April 07, 2022
How Cells Conquer Mazes
Labels: #CellBiology, #Dynamics, #Movement, #Pathfinding
Monday, April 04, 2022
Links for "Genes as Turing Tape" Lecture
Brenner, Sydney. [2012]. "History of Science. The Revolution in the Life Sciences". Science 338 (6113): 1427-8.
Brenner, Sydney. [2012]. "Turing centenary: Life's code script. Nature 482 (7386) (February 22): 461-461.
The virtual Cell
Inside the Cell
Cell Biology at the Biology Project
More on Cells from Wikipedia
The Cell Image Library and highMag
Colonial Algae

Watson and Crick's Molecular structure of Nucleic Acids 1953 article
Journey into DNA
Cracking the Code of Life (PBS Show)
Explore a stretch of code
Translation and Protein Synthesis
Interactions between the Translation Machinery and Microtubules
Labels: #Cell, #dna, #evolution, #information, #SidneyBrenner, #Turing, #VonNeumann, Class Links
Monday, March 28, 2022
Links for "Design Principles of Computation" Lecture
Turing Machine Simulator
Turing Machine Simulator 2
Turing Machine Simulator 3 (Java)
A Turing Machine Overview
BTW, my thoughts on the recent Turing Biopic and a related news article.
The Manchester Baby (1948)
MESM 1950 (Kyev)
Some resources about the Abacus
The Abacus in Various Number Systems
Demo (The Chinese Abacus)
Mechanical Calculators
The Pascaline
The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project
NOVA: Ancient Computer
Babbage, Lovelace and the Analytical Engine
The Difference Engine
The Analytical Engine
9 Neat Facts About the World's First Computer Programmer, Ada Lovelace 
Ada Lovelace and the Analytical Engine
Helping Ada Lovelace with her Homework: Classroom Exercises from a Victorian Calculus Course
Cool implementation of Babbage's Difference Engine using LEGO! Photos, description of adder and carry propagation logic, mechanical issues, etc. at: By Andy Carol
Labels: #babbage, #Computation, #Computers, #Lovelace, #Turing, Class Links
Monday, March 21, 2022
Links for "Computation in Cellular Automata" lecture
Game of Life Demo
Game of Life Applet
3-D Game of Life
Rule 110 and Universal Computation
Computation Theory of Cellular Automata
A Computational Mechanics Reading List by Cosma Shalizi
Labels: #cellularAutomata, #Computation, #DensityTask, #emergentComputation, #GameofLife, #UniversalComputation, Class Links
links for "Cellular Automata and Edge of Chaos" lecture
Devin Acker's Elementary CA Demo
Cellular Automata rules lexicon
Cellular Automata Rules
Cellab
New Kind of Science Applets
MCell
Wolfram CA Demos
Langton's Lambda Parameter
Edge Of Chaos CA
Lambda Parameter Applet
Labels: #cellularAutomata, #complexity, #Computation, #edgeOfChaos, #selfOrganization, Class Links
Monday, March 14, 2022
Engineered Biological Switches
Labels: #dna, #MolecularComputers, #Switches
Monday, March 07, 2022
Links for "Boolean Networks and Self-Organization" lecture
Random Boolean Network Simple Examples
Random Boolean Networks Demo by Wolfram
BooleSim by Mathias Bock
Discrete Dynamics Lab
Booleannet tool for simulating biological regulatory networks in a boolean formalism by Istvan Albert.
CANA Control and Redundancy in Boolean Networks by Rion Correia and CASCI.
Muramator Robot
Spontaneous Order and Self Organization @ Scholarpedia

Labels: #BooleanNetworks, #cellularAutomata, #edgeOfChaos, #self-organization, Class Links
Companion Links for chaos and logistic map lecture
Wolfram demo for the Logistic map and detailed study.
Java Code for Time Series of Logistic Map
GDScript Code for Logistic Map

Andrew Clem ~ Chaos theory contains a very nice explanation of the logistic map and the white bands of periodic behavior inside the chaotic range. Try r=3.84 in the demo used in class, to see a cycle of 3 arise.
See also The birth of period 3, revisited.
Labels: #chaos, #logisticMap, Class Links
Thursday, March 03, 2022
How We Can Make Sense of Chaos
Labels: #chaos, #DynamicalSystems
Monday, February 28, 2022
Companion links for "Dynamical Systems and Attractor Behavior" lecture
Turing Reaction-Diffusion Model of Morphogenesis by Kele W. Cable: a demo by Chris Jennings .
Graphics Research on Reaction-Diffusion
synthetic texture using reaction-diffusion
Reaction-Diffusion in gene expression of digit determination (in mouse)
Validation of predicted patternsin Turing diffusion (in abiological droplets)
Revising the Turing model with biological evidence (in zebrafish)
Turing-type polyamide membranes for water purification
Expanding theoretical models (ABM and others)
Reaction-Diffusion in various areas.
3-Body Gravitational Problem 3-Body Problem in JavaScript
Lorenz Attractor Demo
Wolfram Projects Demo
Plotting Edward Lorenz's 1963 "Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow" in a 3-dimensional space using mplot3d.
Sensitive dependence on initial conditions in the Lorenz Attractor (Python code). Wolfram Sensitivity To Initial Conditions Demo.
Labels: #chaos, #DynamicalSystems, #ReactionDiffusion, #Turing, Class Links
Monday, February 21, 2022
Lecture notes (Chapter 3): Formalizing and Modeling the World

Labels: #Hertz, #information, #modeling
Companion links for Self-Similarity and L-Systems Lecture
- The Koch Curve Fractal, and a generator.
- The Koch Snowflake, and a demo and another.
L-Systems
- A good description and demos by Chris Jennings
- Source Code from Gary Flake's Computational Beauty of Nature Book
- Generate an L-System. An alternative generator, and Another HTML Generator.
- Code for a L-System Explorer
- The Algorithmic Beauty of Plants
- Self-similar syncopations: Fibonacci, L-systems, limericks and ragtime.
- Musical L-Systems by Stelios Manousakis and the Symbolic Composer

3D Genbots using L-systems
The GOLEM Project.
See also the research pages pages of Karl Sims, Jordan Pollack, Hod Lipson, Josh Bongard, and Dario Floreano.
Labels: #development, #fractals, #Lsystems, #morphogenesis, Class Links
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Lecture Notes (Chapter 2): The Logical Mechanisms of Life
Labels: #ArtificialLife, #BiologicalTheory, #ComplexSystems, #GeneralSystems, #SystemsScience, #Theory
Monday, February 07, 2022
Companion links for "Modeling Principles of Organization" lecture
- Fibonacci numbers in Nature. The Romanesco Vegetable.
- Fibonacci Spiral Demo. Another Demo.
- Fibonacci Music
The magic of Fibonacci numbers by Arthur Benjamin
Peter Hilton (1923-2010) discusses intriguing number tricks that can be explained by analysing the properties of Fibonacci numbers and the related Lucas numbers. The explanations themselves benefit from further explanations which, in their turn, lead to further discoveries. Recorded at Imperial College London during the 1996 London Mathematical Society Popular Lecture series.
D'Arcy Thompson
- In retrospect: On Growth and Form by Phillip Ball.
- D'Arcy Thompson's Affine Fish Transformations @ Wolfram
- S.J. Gould. [1971] "D'Arcy Thompson and the Science of Form". New Literary History, 2 (2): 229-258
- W. Arthur [2006]. "D'Arcy Thompson and the theory of transformations".Nature Reviews Genetics 7, 401-406.
- Geometry of Growth and Form: Commentary on D'Arcy Thompson
- Java applet for shell sketching
Patterns of Life – D’Arcy Thompson, Structuralism and the Shape of Life
Treasures of the Library 5. D'Arcy Thompson, On growth and form
BLOOMS: Strobe Animated Sculptures Invented by John Edmark from Charlie Nordstrom on Vimeo. "This series of 3D printed sculptures was designed in such a way that the appendages match Fibonacci's Sequence, a mathematical sequence that manifests naturally in objects like sunflowers and pinecones. When the sculptures are spun at just the right frequency under a strobe light, a rather magical effect occurs: the sculptures seem to be animated or alive!"
Labels: #DArcyThompson, #Fibonacci, #modeling, #morphogenesis, #recursion, ClassLinks
Monday, January 31, 2022
Links for Information Lecture 2
Information Basics
Entropy Applet
Letter frequency in English
Word and Letter Frequency in English
Entropy of English
Text Mechanic - Text Manipulation Tools
1952 – “Theseus” Maze-Solving Mouse @ cyberneticzoo.com
Claude Shannon Demonstrating Theseus
Labels: #entropy, #information, #life
Sunday, January 30, 2022
Lecture notes (chapter 1): What is Life?

Labels: #bioinspiredcomputing, #life
Monday, January 18, 2021
3D underwater collective behaviors in a fish-inspired robot swarm

Labels: #collectivebehavior, #collectiveIntelligence, #Robotics, #Swarms
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Programmable organisms

Labels: #BioRobots, #ProgrammableMatter
Friday, October 18, 2019
Self-healing, path solving mould
Labels: #Intelligence, #SlimeMould
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Robotic collectives inspired by biological cells
Labels: #collectiveIntelligence, #Robotics
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
A neural data structure for novelty detection

Labels: #bioinspired computing, #NoveltyDetection, #Olfaction
Thursday, July 05, 2018
Programming self-organizing multicellular structures

Labels: #self-organization, #SyntheticBiology
Thursday, May 03, 2018
Fractal-like hierarchical organization of bone

Labels: #fractals
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Robot that can change its texture on the fly
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Octopus embodiment and intelligence

Labels: #Embodiment, #Intelligence, #Octopus
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
mathematical sculptors create compelling forms
Friday, March 03, 2017
DNA Fountain enables a robust and efficient storage architecture

Labels: #Computation, #dna
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Studying swarms of ants could help speed up your commute
Labels: #collectivebehavior, #collectiveIntelligence, #Swarms