Purpose – This paper aims to describe an integrated hardware/software system based on evolutionary robotics and its application in an edutainment context. Design/methodology/approach – The system is based on a wide variety of artificial life techniques (artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, user-guided evolutionary design and evolutionary robotics). A user without any computer programming skill can determine the robot's behavior in two different ways: artificial breeding or artificial evolution. Breedbot has been used as a didactic tool in teaching evolutionary biology and as a “futuristic” toy by several science centers. The digital side of Breedbot can be downloaded on the web site: www.isl.unina.it/breedbot Findings – The results in this pilot study suggest that using Breedbot in an educational context can be useful to improve learning in biology. Research limitations/implications – As this is a pilot study, one limitation is the small sample considered. The issue will be investigated further with a wider population and subject-matter, which will also improve the Breedbot system. Practical implications – These results suggest that tools like Breedbot could be introduced into biology curricula at schools. Originality/value – The paper describes an original application in digital content and shows the importance of using such a tool in an Edutainment context. It is therefore interesting for teachers, vocational trainers and anyone involved in educational activities.

Breedbot: an evolutionary robotics application in digital content / Miglino, Orazio; Gigliotta, Onofrio; Ponticorvo, Michela; Nolfi, S.. - In: THE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY. - ISSN 0264-0473. - STAMPA. - 26:3(2008), pp. 363-373. [10.1108/02640470810879509]

Breedbot: an evolutionary robotics application in digital content.

MIGLINO, ORAZIO;GIGLIOTTA, Onofrio;PONTICORVO, MICHELA;
2008

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to describe an integrated hardware/software system based on evolutionary robotics and its application in an edutainment context. Design/methodology/approach – The system is based on a wide variety of artificial life techniques (artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, user-guided evolutionary design and evolutionary robotics). A user without any computer programming skill can determine the robot's behavior in two different ways: artificial breeding or artificial evolution. Breedbot has been used as a didactic tool in teaching evolutionary biology and as a “futuristic” toy by several science centers. The digital side of Breedbot can be downloaded on the web site: www.isl.unina.it/breedbot Findings – The results in this pilot study suggest that using Breedbot in an educational context can be useful to improve learning in biology. Research limitations/implications – As this is a pilot study, one limitation is the small sample considered. The issue will be investigated further with a wider population and subject-matter, which will also improve the Breedbot system. Practical implications – These results suggest that tools like Breedbot could be introduced into biology curricula at schools. Originality/value – The paper describes an original application in digital content and shows the importance of using such a tool in an Edutainment context. It is therefore interesting for teachers, vocational trainers and anyone involved in educational activities.
2008
Breedbot: an evolutionary robotics application in digital content / Miglino, Orazio; Gigliotta, Onofrio; Ponticorvo, Michela; Nolfi, S.. - In: THE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY. - ISSN 0264-0473. - STAMPA. - 26:3(2008), pp. 363-373. [10.1108/02640470810879509]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/322052
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