The Lab · Genetic algorithms, Holland, 1975

Evolving Bikes

Each bike is built from a list of numbers: its frame, where its two wheels go, how big they are, and where the rider sits. The first bikes are random junk. The ones that ride furthest become parents.

Generation1

Best ever–

Still riding–

Leader now–

bestaveragebest ever

Run

Speed1×

Race without drawing (much faster: watch the chart)

Evolution

Bikes per generation24

Mutation: chance each gene changes8%

Best bikes kept unchanged2

Changes apply from the next generation.

The track

How fast the hills growQuick

Track seed1

The same seed always builds the same track, so you can share one: tell a friend "seed 17, quick hills" and you're racing on identical ground. The slider covers 1 to 50; type any number up to 4,294,967,295, or roll a random one. Changing the track keeps the bikes you have.