In the final exercise on the course, you will be able to define the robot speed to specify the value of the neurons in the vehicles. In this video, Richard …
In this video, Richard explains fractals in more detail. He uses a simulation to explain how different fractals can be used to produce realistic looking models of artificial life. To …
An example of typical cooperative behaviour is ‘flocking’, where ‘animals’ move around in formation. Sheep provide a good example of flocking in nature, where there is one leader and the …
Meet Maitreyee Wairagkar, who graduated from the University of Reading with a degree in Cybernetics. Maitreyee continued to study at Reading, and was awarded MEng in Artificial Intelligence and Cybernetics. …
We have described some simple examples of artificial life: Simple robots with built-in instincts Robots with the ability to learn. We have looked at multiple robots interacting: Predator, prey. But …
Ants are following these simple rules: Condition Action Not carrying food and not on pheromone trail Walk randomly, laying pheromone Not carrying food but on pheromone trail Follow trail laying …
There are numerous examples from nature of cooperation Insects pollinating plants Birds eating food between teeth of hippos Specifically relating to cooperating on a task via communication Bees dancing in …
In this video Richard explains how to make a robot with two sensors learn a task. Key concepts include: Setting the scene – how a robot avoids obstacles. Rules of …
Instinctive behaviour is ‘hard wired’ into living things. Insects for example, automatically fly around. They have simple sensors that allow them to perceive their surroundings, detect food and avoid obstacles; …
In the examples this week, the robots have simple behaviour: e.g. they seek lights or avoid them depending on whether they can see a light then. In previous weeks, in …
In this video William introduces a program that demonstrates Grey Walter’s Machina Speculatrix. Grey Walter designed his series of ‘robot tortoises’ (so called because of their tortoise shell shaped back) …
In this video William demonstrates his second simulation, to show how you can assign lights to Braitenberg vehicles, to make them act as predator and prey. The Braitenberg vehicles are …
Now you’ve seen some Braitenberg vehicles in action, watch as William demonstrates his simulation program; inspired by the work of Italian-Austrian cyberneticist Valentino Braitenberg. In this video we see active …
In the middle of the last century, Valentino Braitenberg proposed a form of robot with simple neurons. Born in Italy, Braitenberg was a neuroscientist and cyberneticist who became the director …