B4 IN ¼ IF A3 þ A4 þ A5 þ B3 þ B5 þ C3 þ C4 þ C5
ð
Þ ¼ BIRTH#AND
B4 ¼ 0 THEN 1
ELSE IF A3 þ A4 þ A5 þ B3 þ B5 þ C3 þ C4 þ C5
ð
Þ < NEIGHBOR MIN OR
A3 þ A4 þ A5 þ B3 þ B5 þ C3 þ C4 þ C5
ð
Þ > NEIGHBOR MAX AND
B4 ¼ 1 THEN À 1
ELSE 0
ð43:1Þ
Randomly initialize the value for each cell and observe the system’s dynamics.
You will find that some initial conditions lead to more interesting dynamics than
others. Among the more interesting initial conditions for the model are the ones
shown in the set-ups of Fig. 43.2, where a black cell is one with initial value of one,
and a white cell has initial value of zero. Start the model with one of these initial
conditions, and observe its spatio-temporal dynamics. Find your own constellations
of initial conditions that lead to self-replicating structures. With this model you can
construct “factories” which produce gliding swarms of black cells, or intricate
structures of squares within squares.
We have animated the stocks in the STELLA model and placed ghosts of the
stocks close together to set up a checkerboard-like pattern. The results of the model
with initial conditions depicted in the upper left-hand panel of Fig. 43.2 yields the
results shown in Fig. 43.3.
Fig. 43.1
43.1 Game of Life Model
393