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The next step is the consolidation of this structure in the evolution process. The
operations of the evolution algorithms (such as crossing, mutation) are now applied
to the whole group. In effect, this group may appear in the evolution process as
a new entity created as a result of the aggregation operation, i.e., the evolution
process (Fig.
5.21
c).
The operation of aggregation allows for the creation of more complex compositions,
i.e.,
aggregators
. The operation uses the agent's skills, including the observation
operation of the surrounding environment and particularly of other agents. It allows
the agent to choose candidates for the collaborative creation of new environments
referred to as
niches
in the evolution processes.
Migration
makes the evolution algorithms closer to the processes taking place in
the biological evolution. The elaborate methods of interactions between the subjects
allow for the creation of new species, which in turn may have an influence on the
evolution process itself.
The introduction of the agent in the evolution processes allowed a given subject
(agent) to have access to information on to what extent it is adjusted to the require-
ments of the environment.
While analysing information a given agent concludes that it is not well adjusted
to the present environment, it may use the operation of
migration
(or escape). This
is possible especially when the whole environment is highly diverse, i.e., there are
areas (sub-environments) with distinguishing properties.
In the case the agent's features do not ensure the optimal adjustment in a given
part of the environment, it may migrate and search for some different part, and escape
from the unfriendly one.
In effect, the possibility of migration in the area of diverse environments arises,
and further the concept of evolution in the environment consisting of
islands
can be
developed.
The operation of migration takes advantage of the agent's possibilities, especially
its capability to observe the environment, including other agents, and the agent's
mobility. Due to the observation the agent has the possibility of establishing the
direction of migration satisfying its needs within the evolution process.
5.4.3 Co-evolution as the Extension of the Evolution Process
One of the new solutions in the evolution processes are the co-evolution algorithms.
In these algorithms, the quality of the subject's adaptation (the value of function
adaptation) depends not only on the quality of the solution, which is represented by a
given subject, but also on the properties of other subjects that exists in the population.
The concept of co-evolution has become one of the ways used for preventing the
variety of population from disappearing.
This concept involves the interactions between species, which can be created in a
given process of evolution, and particularly such interactions as competition between
