Evolving Parameters for Xpilot Combat Agents

Abstract

In this paper we present a new method for evolving autonomous agents that are competitive in the space combat game Xpilot. A genetic algorithm is used to evolve the parameters related to the sensitivity of the agent to input stimuli and the agent's level of reaction to these stimuli. The resultant controllers are comparable to the best hand programmed artificial Xpilot bots, are competitive with human players, and display interesting behaviors that resemble human strategies.