  JohnnyVon is an implementation of self-replicating automata in continuous
two-dimensional space. Two types of particles drift about in a virtual liquid.
The particles are automata with discrete internal states but continuous
external relationships. Their internal states are governed by finite state
machines but their external relationships are governed by a simulated physics
that includes brownian motion, viscosity, and spring-like attractive and
repulsive forces. The particles can be assembled into patterns that can encode
arbitrary strings of bits. We demonstrate that, if an arbitrary "seed" pattern
is put in a "soup" of separate individual particles, the pattern will replicate
by assembling the individual particles into copies of itself. We also show
that, given sufficient time, a soup of separate individual particles will
eventually spontaneously form self-replicating patterns. We discuss the
implications of JohnnyVon for research in nanotechnology, theoretical biology,
and artificial life.
