Open-Ended Evolution in Visually Rich Virtual Worlds: Implementation, Analysis, and Use in Undergraduate Education

进化计算系统，其中达尔文的变异和选择原则支配着模拟环境中数字表示的发展，在科学和工程的几个领域都有应用。随着高质量3D可视化和交互性设施的增加，这些系统还可以为复杂和动态演变的虚拟世界提供戏剧性的窗口。这个项目建立在PI的进化计算工作的基础上，以产生在视觉丰富的虚拟世界中实现开放式进化的软件。该项目的目的是生产软件，为从进化生物学到优化理论等领域提供研究机会的实验室环境。该软件模拟进化过程，并根据达尔文原则进行进化，从而改进自身。该项目的第一个目标是吸引和参与本科生（包括科学专业和非专业）通过行为复杂，视觉呈现的虚拟世界的内在令人信服的生命动力学。为了实现这一目标，开发的软件包括一个图形用户界面，使非程序员制定和调查有关进化过程的有意义的问题，提供真正的研究经验的本科生。该项目的第二个目标是支持对这些问题的基础研究。 该系统使用现代的，强大的进化计算技术，可以实现单台PC和高性能的计算机集群。该软件支持本科生和教师的研究，并有助于进化的理解，通过开发基于进化计算的有用技术，并通过非科学家可以理解的格式呈现研究结果。

Evolutionary computation systems, in which Darwinian principles of variation and selection govern the development of digital representations in simulated environments, have applications in several areas of science and engineering. With the addition of facilities for high-quality 3D visualization and interactivity, such systems can also provide dramatic windows into complex and dynamically evolving virtual worlds. This project builds on the PI's work on evolutionary computation to produce software that implements open-ended evolution in visually rich virtual worlds. The project aims to produce software that provides a laboratory environment of research opportunities for fields ranging from evolutionary biology to optimization theory. This software simulates evolutionary processes and evolves based on Darwinian principles, thus improving itself. First goal of the project is to attract and engage undergraduates (both science majors and non-majors) via the intrinsically compelling life-like dynamics of behaviorally complex, visually presented virtual worlds. To achieve this, the developed software includes a graphical user interface that enables non-programmers to formulate and investigate meaningful questions about evolutionary processes, providing genuine research experience to undergraduates. Second goal of the project is to support fundamental research on these same questions. The system uses modern, robust evolutionary computing technologies and can be implemented both for single PCs and for high-performance computer clusters. The software supports both undergraduate and faculty research, and contributes to the understanding of evolution, by developing useful technologies based on evolutionary computation, and by presenting research results in formats understandable by non-scientists.