Project description Cognitive Systems, Interaction, RoboticsNew computational infrastructure mimicking an insect brain architecture Show the project objective Hide the project objective The aim of SPARK II is to develop, evaluate, optimise and generalise a new, insect brain inspired, computational model. The architecture will be hierarchical, based on parallel sensory-motor pathways, implementing reflex-driven basic behaviours. These will be enriched with higher and complex insect brain structural models (Mushroom Bodies, Central Complex) and more physically-inspired nonlinear lattices. The latters will be able to generate "self-organizing" complex dynamics, while the formers will reproduce relevant cognitive functions in insects such as attention-like processes, short-term memory and rewarding mechanisms. Both of them will work concurrently to generate cognitive behaviours at the output motor layer. The architecture will exploit a number of different sensors, processing signals distributed in space and time and also showing nonlinear dynamics. Perceptual processes are conceived as emerging pattern flows (result of a nonlinear spatial-temporal dynamics). Pattern meaning (concept generation) will be incrementally built upon information derived from sensors as well as from some basic "inherited" behaviours mediated through the environment. Emerged patterns, with the concurrent dynamics generated by models of the relevant perception centres in insects, will influence the particular associated motor behaviour. To show the generality of the approach, the model will be applied to different robotics architectures, asked to work in real life, unstructured, cluttered and dynamically changing environment. This will demonstrate that perception for action, formulated by suitably merging complex systems with dynamics derived by insect brain models, can lead to the emergence of general archetypes of wide applicability.Finally another challenging task will consist in using the same model, applied to different robots, to lead to the emergence of cooperation capabilities to perform tasks unable to be fulfilled by one robot alone: further proof of generality. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycognitive neuroscienceengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomologyengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics Programme(s) FP7-ICT - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Information and communication technologies Topic(s) ICT-2007.2.1 - Cognitive systems, interaction, robotics Call for proposal FP7-ICT-2007-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP - Collaborative project (generic) Coordinator Contact Paolo ARENA Dr. Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CATANIA EU contribution € 399 957,00 Address PIAZZA UNIVERSITA 2 95131 Catania Italy See on map Region Isole Sicilia Catania Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Vincenzo Catania (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all JOHANNES GUTENBERG-UNIVERSITAT MAINZ Germany EU contribution € 260 293,00 Address SAARSTRASSE 21 55122 Mainz See on map Region Rheinland-Pfalz Rheinhessen-Pfalz Mainz, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Roland H Strauss (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data INNOVACIONES MICROELECTRONICAS S.L. Spain EU contribution € 168 300,00 Address AVENIDA ISAAC NEWTON S/N PABELLON DE ITALIA 7 PLANTA, ATICO 41009 SEVILLA See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact PANIAGUA JAVIER (MR.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID Spain EU contribution € 171 450,00 Address AVENIDA DE SENECA 2 28040 Madrid See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ignacio Gómez Cuesta (DR.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
