Learning Robots
Clever Little Fellows

1997

Ian Kelly

Neuronal networks as imitations: The litte robots do not only act under orders but are rather enabled to learn various different behavioral patterns.

The nice little robots that can be seen in the Ars Electronica Center originated in robotics research. Efforts now underway are aimed at producing technical creatures that are not simply controlled by commands stored in their central processing units but rather to make robots capable of learning. To do this, neuronal networks are being studied and imitated as nervous systems consisting of circuits composed of miniature electronic switches. Such networks enable robots to learn various different behavioral patterns. Since being introduced, Ars Electronica Center's small pack of robots have come to display a marked pattern of herd behavior, organizing group hunting activities and learning to avoid obstacles.