Simulation of Adaptive Behavior in Animats: Review and Prospect

Abstract

Following a general presentation of the numerous means whereby animats — i.e. simulated animals or autonomous robots — are enabled to display adaptive behaviors, various works making use of such means are discussed. This review cites 176 references and is organized into three pans dealing respectively with preprogrammed adaptive behaviors, with learned adaptive behaviors, and with the evolution of these behaviors. A closing section addresses directions in which it would be desirable to see future research oriented, so as to provide something other than proofs of principle or ad hoc solutions to specific problems, however interesting such proofs or solutions may be in their own right.