The first year of the CAVAA project was characterized by both technical development and integration and deep theoretical discussions and conceptual refinement. A particularly significant achievement was the successful convergence of CAVAA partners during the DCBT 2023 Summer School at SRU, resulting in an intensive technical integration of the core computational models (WP1, WP2), setting the stage for subsequent developments and benchmarks (WP4). These collaborative sessions yielded a series of technical advances, with a special emphasis on the development, integration, and testing of the first modules of the CAVAA cognitive architecture. Core developments include the implementation of a reactive layer that emphasizes self-regulation, the enhancement of spatially-tuned features for efficient trajectory planning, and significant strides in episodic reinforcement learning, showcasing superior learning speed and memory storage. Furthermore, the first technical integration of various computational models, such as the Sequential Episodic Control with Model-Based RL, represents the first major step towards building CAVAA’s cognitive architecture. Work on WP3 also advanced the exploration of various robotic simulations, interface designs, and integration strategies. Key achievements include the clear definition of the types of information to be exchanged and the level of abstraction necessary for effective operation of these agents, facilitating the exchange of perception and motor control information between the robotic simulator and CAVAA’s computational models. Concurrently, a series of online scientific seminars and meetings held during the year culminated in the development of the first draft of a joint theoretical research paper, steered by UU, which worked to hone the project's theoretical underpinnings, offering clarity on consciousness and awareness definitions and their empirical validations. This manuscript serves as a foundational stone, linking theoretical postulations to real-world benchmarks, and thus paving the way for the project's subsequent phases. Collectively, these advancements not only reinforce the project's objectives but also exemplify the potent blend of theory, practice, and innovation that CAVAA champions.