Cross-domain features of runs of genetic programming used to evolve designs for analog circuits, optical lens systems, controllers, antennas, mechanical systems, and quantum computing circuits

Genetic programming has now been successfully used to automatically synthesize human-competitive designs in a number of fields, including analog electrical circuits, optical lens systems, antennas, controllers, mechanical systems, and quantum computing circuits. Despite considerable variation in representation and technique, the above results share a number of common features. This paper identifies five common features and suggests possible explanations and interpretations for them. Some of these cross-domain observations clearly could not have been anticipated prior to the work being done.