History of Computers - Self Reproducing Automata

Self Reproducing Automata

page created by Eric Wang

Introduction

The self reproducing automata is a cellular automata is a self reproducing machine that will continue to copy itself over and over. A cellular automata is a sort of attempt to copy biological cells into computers. The concept was created in the 1940’s by [[1]] in his book, Theory of Self-Reproducing Automata. This self reproducing automata is also serves as the theory behind computer viruses. A program that will continue to reproduce and infect more computers.

Overview

This machine was a concept created without a computer. It was also known as a universal constructor. The machine would essentially work by having a blueprint of itself, copying the blueprint, and reproducing itself and so on. It was designed to attempt to mimic real life examples of reproduction. Mutations could be added to the machine to help it adapt and evolve in changing environments while it continued to reproduce just like a living organism. This invention is so amazing in that it was conceived before DNA was even discovered. It wasn’t until 1995 until the first fully implemented version of this idea came to life. It was created by Renato Nobili and Umberto Pesavento. This idea has been researched by many other scientists to produce a self-replicating machine. Notable names include Homer Jacobsen, Edward F. Moore, and Freeman Dyson. This technology could possibly lead us to better nano technology. A successful self producing machine would be able to create copies of itself over and over again using resources found in the environment. Self reproducing Automata lies on the intersections of the fields of biology, computer science, and physics. Von Neumann's idea is to create a "living," computer that could produce copies of itself that would also be able to produce copies of itself thus creating a pattern of "reproduction."His idea is based off a theoretical universal constructor which given the proper instructions could reproduce any pattern.

Significance

The Self Producing Automata idea could be used in many ways. One negative way this design has been used is to create computer viruses, thus Neumann could be called a "forefather," of computer viruses. Computer viruses are based off Neumann's original idea, but instead of a machine it is a program that attacks and destroys other programs in order to create space to reproduce versions of itself. Neumanns automata has also been used to model a Von Neumann probe. This is a theoretical probe that could harvest readily available and common resources in space and then replicate itself. This would allow us to have multiple probes in space without having to spend time and money building and launching probes individually.