Darwin’s Devices: What Evolving Robots Can Teach Us About the History of Life and the Future of Technology

Long, director of Vassar’s Robotics Research Laboratory, describes a wonderfully creative series of experiments conducted with autonomous fishlike robots that, among other qualities, can search for food and avoid predators. In short, these “tadros” (tadpole robots) can compete with each other in a mock evolutionary battle for survival. Long begins with first principles, his three simple rules of evolution: you score points for every child you create; bonus points for a child with offspring; and you use any means necessary to keep your offspring alive. Long’s process of designing the “tadros” and experiments are fascinating and give unique insights into high-level science. For example, he designs his “tadros” to swim fast, an evolutionary advantage that results in a “wobble,” thought to be an evolutionary disadvantage. But surprisingly the combination of wobble and speed confers an evolutionary advantage. Long deciphers these unexpected results with a delightful sense of humor and an infectious awe at, and enthusiasm for, discovery and the elegant mechanisms of evolution. For readers who like serious science, this is a captivating tour of the marriage of technology and biology. B&w illus. Agent: Laura Wood, FinePoint Literary Management. (Apr.)