Creating herd behavior by virtual agents using neural networks

摘要

The paper focuses on simulating an artificial life in which neural networks (recurrent (RNN) and Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks) control prey and predator agents. The research goal was to check whether a simple genetic algorithm evolves the LSTM based controller that competes with the classic RNN controller in the real world. We also examined the impact of audio communication within a given species on the survival of agents. Our experiments evidenced the LSTM network results were slightly worse than the RNN controller. We also showed that prey agents developed herd behavior in response to predator pressure. They learned to form herds that allowed them to resist predator attacks. It was also possible to observe the prey agent’s cooperation in searching for food when the plants formed clusters.