*That's pretty hairy, or it would be if they grew some hair.
https://youtu.be/dSlHoIBDdlc
Published on Mar 28, 2015
Soft-Body Muscles for Evolved Virtual Creatures:
The Next Step on a Bio-Mimetic Path to
Meaningful Morphological Complexity
In the past, evolved virtual creatures (EVCs) have been developed with rigid, segmented bodies, and with soft bodies, but never before with a combination of the two. In nature, however, creatures combining a rigid skeleton and non-rigid muscles are some of the most complex and successful examples of life on earth. Now, for the first time, creatures with fully evolved rigid-body skeletons and soft-body muscles can be developed in the virtual world, as well. By exploiting and re-purposing the capabilities of existing soft-body simulation systems, we can evolve complex and effective simulated muscles, able to drive a rigid-body skeleton. In this way, we can begin to bridge the gap between articulated and soft-bodied EVCs, and take the next step on a nature-inspired path to meaningful morphological complexity for evolved virtual creatures.
