History of Computers - Self Reproducing Automata

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 [[ 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 untilt the first fully implemented version of this idea came to life. It was created by Renato Nobili and Umberto Pesavento.

Refrences

https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/john-von-neumanns-cellular-automata https://www.computerhope.com/people/john_neumann.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_universal_constructor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden_(cellular_automaton)