Interactivity and Educational Information in Virtual Real-Time 3D Videos

摘要

Conceiving an Animat (i.e. an Artificial Animal) is of interest in many research fields, from video games for realistic behavior of creatures, to biology for studying ecosystems evolution from known initial conditions. In this paper, we define a simple, while quite general and efficient, way to build such an Animat. An interactive application is provided by means of a virtual fish tank. Our method relies on a basic principle: a decision is taken according to two sets of parameters. The first one describes the External State of the animat, that is what it is able to observe using its species sensors. The second one describes its Internal State that is, present needs such as fear and hunger as well as general feeling. Any Animat owns a list of behaviors allowing interactions with the environment. Each behavior is defined as a component taking inputs in the set of Internal and External States and giving as output an action (e.g. a new direction). Finally, the better-adapted component is chosen. Those different states are available for visualization and modification by selecting fish on a touch screen. Its goal is to give interactive educational information.