Genomic computing networks learn complex POMDPs

A genomic computing network is a variant of a neural network for which a genome encodes all aspects, both structural and functional, of the network. The genome is evolved by a genetic algorithm to fit particular tasks and environments. The genome has three portions: one for specifying links and their initial weights, a second for specifying how a node updates its internal state, and a third for specifying how a node updates the weights on its links. Preliminary experiments demonstrate that genomic computing networks can use node internal state to solve POMDPs more complex than those solved previously using neural networks.