How is this genre called? - Computer Sim Teaches Itself To Walk

skagla

Hey,

I recently found this video where a computer sim teaches it self how to walk. I was wondering how this genre is called? Or where do can I find more information about this? Thanks =)

Chrisir

It's a simulation. You can simulate all kinds of things, walking, weather or trading.....

Look for walk / walking on openprocessing.org

In this sim you have different body models / bones / muscles and gravity to simulate. You also have an algorithm steering the movement.

You also have a goal : that it doesn't fall.

Those problems are called optimization problems.

They optimize the algorithm or the parameters used here to make the walking better. See also heuristic.

In this case probably (because generation is mentioned in the video) look at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_algorithm

maybe even a neural network is at play here

Chrisir

See also

https://forum.processing.org/two/discussion/22288/what-s-wrong-with-my-smart-rockets-code#latest

jeremydouglass

@skagla -- as @Chrisir says, it as an evolutionary algorithm.

Specifically, the presentation says that they are using CMA-ES.

If you want to see a very impressive (huge) Processing sketch that offers a complete interface to an evolutionary algorithm, check this out:

• Evolution Simulator by Carey Huang. OpenProcessing.org: https://www.openprocessing.org/sketch/205807

Try a Quick generation and an ASAP, then use ALAP to run through 50-100 generations before inspecting the top members.

skagla

thanks, I'll check out the links =)

jeremydouglass

@skagla -- to make one yourself step-by-step, see also Shiffman's "Smart Rockets" coding challenge tutorial: