The Evolvable Computation Group, 1,2 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is tasked with demonstrating the utility of computational engineering and computer optimized design for complex space systems. The group is comprised of researchers over a broad range of disciplines including biology, genetics, robotics, physics, computer science and system design, and employs biologically inspired evolutionary computational techniques to design and optimize complex systems. Over the past two years we

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... developed tools using genetic algorithms, simulated annealing and other optimizers to improve on human design of space systems. We have further demonstrated that the same tools used for computeraided design and design evaluation can be used for automated innovation and design. These powerful techniques also serve to reduce redesign costs and schedules.