Minimalist Mobile Robotics

6

1.

Introduction

As a contrast to the usual robotics approach, let us examine

some work from the field of ethology, the study of animal

behavior. Much effort has been devoted to finding the

"releasing" stimulus for particular behavioral pattern. By care-

fully controlled studies researchers are able to determine what

features of the situation an animal is paying attention to.

Typically, creatures do not have very detailed models of the

objects they interact with.

Figure

1-2.

Animals

seem

to use

incomplete models

for

many activities.

Baby seagulls respond just

as

well

to the

mockup

on the

right

as

they

do to

their

own

parent (left).

The

critica ...