Escalera, Juan A.Doyle, Matthew J.Mondada, FrancescoGross, Roderich2020-08-082020-08-082020-08-082019-01-0110.1007/978-3-319-73008-0_26https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/170682WOS:000552327000026This paper describes an alternative path towards artificial life-one by which simple modular robots with novel hybrid motion control are used to represent artificial organisms. We outline conceptually how such a system would work, and present a partial hardware implementation. The hardware, a set of self-reconfigurable modules called the evo-bots, operates on an air table. The modules use a stop-start anchor mechanism to either rest ormove. In the latter case, they undergo semi-random motion. The modules can search for, harvest and exchange energy. In addition, they can self-assemble, and thereby form compound structures. Six prototypes of the evo-bot modules were built. We experimentally demonstrate their key functions, namely hybrid motion control, energy harvesting and sharing, and simple structure formation.text::conference output::conference proceedings::conference paper