Artificial Animals in Realistic Virtual Worlds

This paper describes a virtual marine ecosystem inhabited by realistic artificial life that emulates the appearance, movement, and behavior of real fishes. Each artificial fish is an autonomous agent in a simulated physical world. It has (i) a three-dimensional body with internal muscle actuators and functional fins, which deforms and locomotes in accordance with biomechanic and hydrodynamic principles, (ii) sensors, including eyes that can image the environment, and (iii) a brain with motor, perception, behavior, and learning centers. Artificial fishes exhibit a repertoire of piscine behaviors that rely on their perceptual awareness of their dynamic habitat. Furthermore, they can learn how to locomote through practice and sensory reinforcement.