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An Introduction to Artificial LifeAn Introduction to Artificial Life

The Choice Methodology: A New Foundation of Structured Machine Life

Department of Adaptive SystemsInstitute of Information Theory and Automation

Academy of Sciences, Czech Republictuckerca@utia.cas.cz

http://www.paradoxtechnologies.org

Christopher A. Tucker

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Topics covered in this lecture:Topics covered in this lecture:

A Hierarchy of Life Forms• Cognition Hierarchy – Mimicked Forms

Under Consideration• The Choice Complex

The Research Question• Experience & Emergence

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Topics covered in this lecture:Topics covered in this lecture:

Three Theoretical Assumptions• Research Paradigms

Experimental Methods• Choice Hardware & Software• The Queen-Drone Autonomous System

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The Cognition HierarchyThe Cognition Hierarchy

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The Choice ComplexThe Choice Complex

If a machine can make a choice and if it did, would it be a meaningful one?

Empirical testing by embedding behavior in architecture

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The Research QuestionThe Research Question

If a machine can directly experience entropy, is the consequence an emergence of consciousness?

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Theoretical Assumption #1:Theoretical Assumption #1:

If a machine can make a choice, it portrays some level of

consciousness

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Theoretical Assumption #2:Theoretical Assumption #2:

Only if a machine mimics biological life can it have access to those kinds of

experiences.

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Theoretical Assumption #3:Theoretical Assumption #3:

If a machine has knowledge of its death, it fosters emergent

behavior.

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In order to satisfy the research question, the machine…In order to satisfy the research question, the machine…

Choice• Determines Experience

Life “Conditioning” & Survival Adaptations

• Entropy

Mimic• Form & Function

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ChoiceChoice

Determines Experience

Fosters Behavior

Forecasts Evolution

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Life “Conditioning” & SurvivalLife “Conditioning” & Survival

Knows that it has “life” functions within a set of states—its operational life—and also knows the inverse.

The ability to die fostering emergent behavior in the form of survival adaptations

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Entropy & DeathEntropy & Death

Catalyzed by a unique circuit in the machine mainframe

A special circuit attached to a generic robotics platform

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MimicMimic

The Mimic or Animae (synthetic animal)

Satisfies the condition of form

Satisfies the condition of function

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An Artificial Life PrototypeAn Artificial Life Prototype

Based on the theoretical principles

The Experiment

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ExperimentationExperimentation

How are all these ideas put together in a reasonable methodology whereby we can test some of the notions illustrated?

How can we generate reproducible results and publish our ideas?

How can we create a methodological framework to extend to future versions and generations of machines?

How can we advance the knowledge of science?

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Experimental ConditionsExperimental Conditions

The machine should be made to exist on its own with as little interference from humans to be as a close an approximation to life as possible.

Two Experimental Conditions

Clause:

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Experimental ConditionsExperimental Conditions

There can be no qualitative comparison with human intelligence.

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Experimental ConditionsExperimental Conditions

No superposition of one intelligence system with another, all objects in the system remain equal.

How?

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Motif: Environment, Intelligence, and BehaviorMotif: Environment, Intelligence, and Behavior

“The properties commonly ascribed to any object are, in last analysis, names for its behavior.”

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The Hardware ParadigmThe Hardware Paradigm

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Choice HardwareChoice Hardware

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The Wireless Power SystemThe Wireless Power System

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A Prototype Wireless Power TransmitterA Prototype Wireless Power Transmitter

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Hardware LayoutHardware Layout

Cooperating with the transmitting array, there is a third card that is onboard in the physical device

Note: Card less conversion circuitry

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Method of Power DeliveryMethod of Power Delivery

Two methods under consideration:

1) CW at radio frequency

2) Pulsed power at near-audio frequency

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CW – Radio FrequencyCW – Radio Frequency

Tests already conducted and proof of prototype accomplished (2004):

At a transmission carrier frequency (f0) of 78MHz

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Pulsed PowerPulsed Power

Currently under development for a upcoming research grant sponsored by the University of Reading…

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Choice Hardware & SoftwareChoice Hardware & Software

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The Entropic CircuitThe Entropic Circuit

The Core of the Domain-Specific Robotics PlatformThe Core of the Domain-Specific Robotics Platform

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The Software ParadigmThe Software Paradigm

Power Choice—A, B, C, high, mid, low; signals exchanged between Tx and R′x

Coupled to 802.11x device Power delivered relative to feedback

between power and load sensors Relationship modeled in software

diagram…

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Queen-Drone XML Layout (Software Controller)Queen-Drone XML Layout (Software Controller)

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Test the existing wireless power system Apply software controller (choice) Refit a physical robot with the Entropic

Circuit Deploy and test Watch the magic happen!

What are the first experiments?What are the first experiments?

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Results of Physical PrototypeResults of Physical Prototype

Fully autonomous animae

Adapted to its environment

Dynamic model of living systems

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Project goals over the next 24 months:Project goals over the next 24 months:

Test the tenets of distribution of energy & information in a cybernetic paradigm

Allow a continuous operation of the machine A long-term study of behavior The Entropic Circuit to test survival in artificial

forms Understanding the feature of choice in living

systems

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Goals already accomplished since inception of projectGoals already accomplished since inception of project

Software architecture deployed in www.o2active.cz

– Commercial application of the choice complex– Testing of transformation-based logic (Ashby 1957)– Includes properties illustrated in this lecture– Decentralized parallel processing with drone tasking

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Questions…Comments…Questions…Comments…

A paper containing the information in this lecture is slatedfor publication in early in 2007.

In the meantime…

http://www.paradoxtechnologies.org

Paradox TechnologiesYou Dream It, We Build It

http://www.paradoxtechnologies.org

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Thank you…Thank you…

A special thank you to UTIA-AS and Dr. Kárný