Dan Roe on intelligent robots

Daniel Roe gave a talk and small presentation on artificial lifeforms at IIT-KGP, India. He showcased two artificial lifeforms that showed similarities with actual living creatures and briefly explained their construction and neuro-kinetic behavior.

Category:

Science & Technology

[stopmojim]

Artificial lifeforms? I don't think so. There is nothing remotely "living" about these circuits. Two relaxation oscilators hooked together through a potentiometer is NOT a living thing even if BEAM hobbiests have been mislead to think so!

[GesheTashi]

Thank you for your interest in my upload! Of course there's no life in these circuits, that is exactly why these organisms are called ARTIFICIAL lifeforms. These organisms do exhibit "lifelike" behavior i.e. vying for energy and seeking out sunny spots but that in no way makes these living organisms. So that brings us back to where we started ........ artificial lifeforms.

[stopmojim]

I just realized you termed these circuits as "organisims". Could you explain that? My dictionary defines that word to mean: "n : a living person, animal, or plant".

Like I said, hype.

[stopmojim]

The Japanese understand this quite well. They are consentrating on the human factor of robotics. The BEAM approach is exactly the opposite and imo, invalid. They are creating an industry of "rreal" robots. BEAM is a great introduction to electronics, but nothing more. The present employer of Mr. Tilden shows quite clearly where the tech has gone and where it belongs. "Living machines" is an oxymoron.

[stopmojim]

When I started building these circuits I was impressed by the "living machines" hype. After years of building and starting to see the limits of the tech, I realized that these circuits are not what they are claimed to be. "Bottom up" robot evolution is not valid as no one has a need for a "wild" robot. Robots must fill an economic niche in order to be mass produced. This implies an interpersonal relationship with the owner.Otherwise, why make it a complex robot instead of just a washing machine?

[stopmojim]

Sorry, artificial "lifeforms" implies a very specific association with "life". These simple circuits DO NOT resemble "life" in any way. It is hype created by the inventor 20 years ago and is just as false today. A simple circuit arrangement that detects variation in light levels is not "life". Dumping surrent into a motor through biasing of photodiodes is not 'life". Claiming so is a gross exageration meant to dazzle those that don't understand. And, it helps to sell hobby supplies on the net.