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Automatic Definition of Modular Neural Networks

Stanford University

This article illustrates an artificial developmental system that is a computationally efficient technique for the automatic generation of complex artificial neural networks (ANNs). The artificial developmental system can develop a graph grammar into a modular ANN made of a combination of simpler subnetworks. A genetic algorithm is used to evolve coded grammars that generate ANNs for controlling six-legged robot locomotion. A mechanism for the automatic definition of neural subnetworks is incorporated Using this mechanism, the genetic algorithm can automatically decompose a problem into subproblems, generate a subANN for solving the subproblem, and instantiate copies of this subANN to build a higher-level ANN that solves the problem. We report some simulation results showing that the same problem cannot be solved if the mechanism for automatic definition of subnetworks is suppressed. We support our argument with pictures that describe the steps of development, how ANN structures are evolved, and how the ANNs compute.

Key Words: animats • cellular encoding • modularity • locomotion • automatic definition of neural subnetworks

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