TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– This paper aims to describe an integrated hardware/software system based on evolutionary robotics and its application in an edutainment context.Design/methodology/approach– The system is based on a wide variety of artificial life techniques (artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, user‐guided evolutionary design and evolutionary robotics). A user without any computer programming skill can determine the robot's behavior in two different ways: artificial breeding or artificial evolution. Breedbot has been used as a didactic tool in teaching evolutionary biology and as a “futuristic” toy by several science centers. The digital side of Breedbot can be downloaded on the web site: www.isl.unina.it/breedbot Findings – The results in this pilot study suggest that using Breedbot in an educational context can be useful to improve learning in biology.Research limitations/implications– As this is a pilot study, one limitation is the small sample considered. The issue will be investigated further with a wider population and subject‐matter, which will also improve the Breedbot system.Practical implications– These results suggest that tools like Breedbot could be introduced into biology curricula at schools.Originality/value– The paper describes an original application in digital content and shows the importance of using such a tool in an Edutainment context. It is therefore interesting for teachers, vocational trainers and anyone involved in educational activities. VL - 26 IS - 3 SN - 0264-0473 DO - 10.1108/02640470810879509 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470810879509 AU - Miglino Orazio AU - Gigliotta Onofrio AU - Ponticorvo Michela AU - Nolfi Stefano PY - 2008 Y1 - 2008/01/01 TI - Breedbot: an evolutionary robotics application in digital content T2 - The Electronic Library PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 363 EP - 373 Y2 - 2024/03/29 ER -