Artificial life and robotics celebrates its 30th anniversary
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of the journal Artificial Life and Robotics. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the journal over the years, whether as authors, reviewers, and members of the editorial board and office. It is with great honor and a deep sense of responsibility that I assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of this historically significant journal in this milestone year.
Artificial life research is an interdisciplinary field aimed at understanding the essence of life, imitating it, and creating new forms of life. Living organisms on Earth are thought to have survived due to natural selection, successfully adapting to the Earth’s environment. To understand the essence of biological intelligence, there are two main approaches: one involves closely observing and comprehending the ingenuity of living organisms, while the other takes a constructive approach by creating artificial systems that replicate the functions of living organisms. Robotics has developed through the interplay of both approaches.
Research in artificial life and robotics integrates knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, including physics, biology, engineering, computer science, mathematics, and chemistry. In the foreword to Artificial Life and Robotics, Vol. 1, No. 1, the following statement was made: "Artificial Life and Robotics opens its pages to those who are trying to provide a better life for human beings by creating new technologies related to artificial life and robotics. We also welcome discussions on how life emerges, what our lives will be like in the future, and on new technologies and ideas for exploring the origin of real life and creating artificial or quasi-life." Even after 30 years, artificial life and robotics remain vibrant fields, and societal expectations for these disciplines are only growing.
Artificial life research can be broadly divided into three main areas.
1. Software-based Research: This involves using computer simulations and algorithms to replicate the dynamics of biological evolution and ecosystems. Advances in this area have transitioned from studies on genetic algorithms and cellular automata to large-scale simulations using computational power, enabling developments such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and large language models (LLMs).
2. Hardware-based Research: This focuses on constructing physical entities resembling living organisms through robotics and materials science. Notable progress includes systems with self-repair and self-replication capabilities, bio-inspired robotic systems, and the use of new materials in soft robotics.
3. Biochemical-based Research: This uses chemical processes and synthetic biology to create entities that closely resemble living organisms. A landmark in this field was the 2021 study of "xenobots"—self-replicating synthetic lifeforms built from frog cells, capturing public attention as biological robots.
These developments highlight the rapid growth of artificial life and robotics, with artificial intelligence and robots now deeply embedded in our society and everyday lives. Beyond technological innovation, research in artificial life and robotics profoundly influences our perspectives on life and ethics. How we use generative AI and robots will become a significant societal challenge in the years ahead.
The journal Artificial Life and Robotics aims to contribute to the advancement of these fields by publishing a wide range of high-quality papers and sharing cutting-edge information. We hope you will continue to look forward to the future of Artificial Life and Robotics.
P.S. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Artificial Life and Robotics, we will recognize the most highly cited paper from the past 10 years. As part of the award, Springer has generously agreed to offer a selection of books chosen by the winners, up to a value of EUR 200. In addition, the award-winning paper, along with several other highly cited papers from the past 5 years, will be made freely accessible for a limited time (approximately 8 weeks). We hope you will find these valuable resources helpful.
Fumitoshi Matsuno
Editor-in-Chief, Artificial Life and Robotics
Professor, Osaka Institute of Technology
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University
Deputy Director, Field of Robotics, Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI)
Vice President, International Rescue System Institute