The set of movement solutions
The CA is controlled by the following buttons:
Plant CA: CA is planted.
Shorter: Makes CA shorter.
Longer: Makes CA longer.
The obstacle is controlled by the following buttons:
Upward: Moves obstacle upward. Its y-coordinate is displayed
as ycoord =.
Downward: Moves obstacle downward. Its y-coordinate is displayed
as ycoord =.
No movement:
width+: Make CA wider
width-: Make CA slimmer
Resources= the amount of resources the CA has.
ycoord= The y-coordinate of the obstacle
Width: CA width
This is a continuation of the foraging
experiment . When the experiment starts, a zygote is planted at
the applet bottom which is the CA nest. As the CA grows it loses
resources and after it matured it turns upward toward the obstacle
which serves as its food. When clinging to the food source (obstacle)
it may create a new solution and changes its structure. After accumulating
about 40 resource units it turns back to explore its nest neighborhood.
When resources = -150 the CA plants a zygote and dies.
In the following experiments first change width and then plant the
CA
Start from width = 12 and after each run make the
CA thinner.
Width |
Behavior |
2 |
Does not return to the nest |
3 |
No movement |
4 |
When turning back it creates a new solution |
5 |
When turning back it creates a new solution |
6 |
Does not return to the nest |
7 |
Extremely slow |
8 |
Returns to the nest |
9 |
Returns to the nest |
10 |
Returns to the nest |
11 |
Does not return to the nest |
12 |
Returns to the nest |
16 |
Returns to the nest |
24 |
Default structure CA is isolated |
Each width determines a different CA solution, or structural attractor.
Interaction with the obstacle, perturbs the CA and it attempts to
create a new solution. If failing it plants a new zygote and dies.
The behavior of CA with width > 12 is more complex. Nevertheless
they all seek a solution. Try width = 16. Despite complex behavior
the CA will reach the obstacle and return to its nest.
Set width = 16. The system as a whole consisting of the two
CA will oscillate around its center of mass and occupy an attractor.
You might regard it as a solution of a two body problem in which
a constant CA interacts with a moving one..