Course: Begin Robotics

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 the exercise in the next step you will have the chance to drive your robot around a maze. Before you get started, take a look at this video in …

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 …

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 …