Evolutionary robotics as a modelling tool in evolutionary biology

Winfield, Alan F. T.

doi:10.3389/frobt.2024.1278983

Evolutionary robotics as a modelling tool in evolutionary biology

Winfield, Alan F. T.

Authors

Professor Alan Winfield Alan.Winfield@uwe.ac.uk
Professor of Robot Ethics

Abstract

The use of evolutionary robotic systems to model aspects of evolutionary biology is well-established. Yet, few studies have asked the question, “What kind of model is an evolutionary robotic system?” This paper seeks to address that question in several ways. First, it is addressed by applying a structured model description developed for physical robot models of animal sensorimotor systems, then by outlining the strengths and limitations of evolutionary robotics for modelling evolutionary biology, and, finally, by considering the deepest questions in evolution and which of them might feasibly be modelled by evolutionary robotics. The paper concludes that although evolutionary robotics faces serious limitations in exploring deeper questions in evolutionary biology, its bottom-up approach to modelling populations of evolving phenotypes and their embodied interactions holds significant value for both testing and generating hypotheses.

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Sep 6, 2024
Online Publication Date	Nov 5, 2024
Publication Date	Nov 5, 2024
Deposit Date	Jan 8, 2025
Publicly Available Date	Jan 8, 2025
Journal	Frontiers in Robotics and AI
Electronic ISSN	2296-9144
Publisher	Frontiers Media
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	11
Article Number	1278983
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2024.1278983
Keywords	evolutionary biology, synthetic method, robots as scientific instruments, evolutionary robotics, model description
Public URL	https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13461819