Darwin in a Box: This is really neat. The videos are worth the time it takes to download them. The basic premise is that the researchers programatically created a nervous system as well as all the muslces, tendons, and senses needed to walk. They then algorithmically evolved the system until it taught itself to walk.
First off, I'm always amazed at how easy these articles make this sound. Take ten random numbers between one and ten. Pick the five closest to ten. Those five get reset to a random number between two and ten (they're range is smaller because being closer to ten is better in our experiment and they won the first round so they get a bonus). Reset the other five to a random number between one and ten. For each strain that advances reduce it's range.
That seems awfully artificial to me, but it also seems to be how these evolution programs break down. However they work, creating a video game character (a troll for example) and then having it develop a method of locomotion unique to the body you created for it is extremely interesting and could lead to some very cool new characters and navigation structures.
Does anyone else have links to open source versions of these types of programs? I'd be interested in learning more.