%A Arnold Smith
%A Peter Turney
%A Robert Ewaschuk
%J Artificial Life
%T Self-Replicating Machines in Continuous Space with Virtual Physics
%X JohnnyVon is an implementation of self-replicating machines in 
continuous two-dimensional space. Two types of particles drift 
about in a virtual liquid. The particles are automata with 
discrete internal states but continuous external relationships. 
Their internal states are governed by finite state machines but 
their external relationships are governed by a simulated physics 
that includes Brownian motion, viscosity, and spring-like attractive 
and repulsive forces. The particles can be assembled into patterns 
that can encode arbitrary strings of bits. We demonstrate that, if 
an arbitrary "seed" pattern is put in a "soup" of separate individual 
particles, the pattern will replicate by assembling the individual 
particles into copies of itself. We also show that, given sufficient 
time, a soup of separate individual particles will eventually 
spontaneously form self-replicating patterns. We discuss the implications 
of JohnnyVon for research in nanotechnology, theoretical biology, and 
artificial life.
%N 1
%P 21-40
%V 9
%D 2003
%I MIT Press
%L cogprints2888

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