Toward evolutionary design of autonomous systems

An evolutionary method for designing autonomous systems is proposed. The research is a computer exploration on how the global behavior of autonomous systems can emerge from neural circuits. The evolutionary approach is used to increase the repertoire of behaviors. Autonomous systems are viewed as organisms in an environment. Each organism has its own set of production rules, a genetic code, that gives birth to the neural structure. Another set of production rules describe the environmental factors. These production rules together give rise to a neural network embedded in the organism model. The neural network is the only means to direct reproduction. This gives rise to intelligence, i.e. organisms which have \more" intelligent methods to reproduce will have a relative advantage for survival.