Computer Evolution of Buildable Objects

We believe that not just the software, but also the physical body of a robot could be the result of an evolutionary process.

A step in this direction is the evolution of buildable lego structures, designed by the computer through the combination of genetic algorithms and physical simulation.


Evolutionary Lego Crane

Crane animated GIF
Click here to play again

This animation shows our evolutionary Lego crane in action. Click here to see a full mpeg video (4.7 mb).

The arm of this crane was evolved by our evolutionary Lego simulation system to lift a weight of .5 kg.

We designed a rotating base for the crane and feeded it into a genetic algorithm in the form of a set of constraints.

After a satisfactory arm is found, the computer prints a schematic of the arm. We build it, carefully following these instructions.

This video shows our crane lifting a .5 kg roll of solder.


More information about Computer Evolution of Buildable Objects

Send comments to

pablo@cs.brandeis.edu

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Lego building & video editing by Joe Uchill