Embodied Computation: Applying the Physics of Computation to Artificial Morphogenesis
Embodied Computation: Applying the Physics of Computation to Artificial Morphogenesis
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DOI：
10.1142/s0129626412400130
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发表时间：
2012-07
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影响因子：
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通讯作者：
B. MacLennan
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作者：
B. MacLennan
我们讨论了组装复杂的物理系统，结构从纳米级到宏观尺度的问题，并认为胚胎形态发生提供了一个很好的模型，这是如何实现的。形态发生（无论是自然的还是人工的）是具身计算的一个例子，它利用物理过程来实现计算目的，或者为它们的物理效果执行计算。在自然形态发生中，具身计算的例子可以在许多层面上找到，从执行简单具身计算的变构蛋白，到产生具有特定模式、组成和形式的组织的细胞。我们概述了一个符号描述形态发生的程序，并说明它的使用与两个例子：简单的扩散和装配一个简单的脊柱与腿的附着点。虽然还有很多研究要做-在模拟水平之前，我们尝试物理实现-我们的结果到目前为止显示，我们如何可以实现形态发生的基本过程作为一个实际应用体现计算在纳米和微米尺度。
We discuss the problem of assembling complex physical systems that are structured from the nanoscale up through the macroscale, and argue that embryological morphogenesis provides a good model of how this can be accomplished. Morphogenesis (whether natural or artificial) is an example of embodied computation, which exploits physical processes for computational ends, or performs computations for their physical effects. Examples of embodied computation in natural morphogenesis can be found at many levels, from allosteric proteins, which perform simple embodied computations, up through cells, which act to create tissues with specific patterns, compositions, and forms. We outline a notation for describing morphogenetic programs and illustrate its use with two examples: simple diffusion and the assembly of a simple spine with attachment points for legs. While much research remains to be done — at the simulation level before we attempt physical implementations — our results to date show how we may implement the fundamental processes of morphogenesis as a practical application of embodied computation at the nano- and microscale.