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Prosthetic hands introduce an artificial sensorimotor interface between the prosthesiswearer and the environment that is prone to perturbations. We analyze theoretically and evaluate psychophysically the performance in stable grip control in conditions of physical grasps perturbation, such as object slip. Simulation results suggest that user-centered stable grasp control depends on two primal user parameters: reaction time to slip and grip force intensity. Experiments with human users indicate that a user's response time can be controlled by relaying information about the speed of the slipping object, while minimal grip force intensity can be adjusted with information about grip force at the onset of the slip. Based on our theoretical and experimental findings, we propose a stable grasp control method for prosthetic hands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In quadruped animals, spinal movements contribute to locomotion in terms of controlling body posture and integrating limb and trunk actions. In this paper, we develop quadruped models with different numbers of spinal joints to demonstrate the spine-driven locomotion. Actuated spinal joint(s) are exclusively employed to these models with a minimalistic control strategy. We choose some typical individuals from two models and analyze them on gait properties. Results show that employing the spine morphology with two joints can greatly enhance the stability and speed of locomotion by readjusting the center of mass, increasing the stride length, and generating double flight phases similar to running cheetahs’ gait, which makes significant difference in the speed and the gait. Furthermore, we explore and compare models with more spinal joints. Results show that all gaits emerged from them can be categorized into three types (bounding, bounding with double flight phase, and stotting gaits). Overall, bounding gait with double flight phases is a more biologically inspired locomotive behavior; model with two spinal joints could be sufficient to emulate biological spine-driven locomotive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental robotics is an emerging field located at the intersection of robotics, cognitive science and developmental sciences. This paper elucidates the main reasons and key motivations behind the convergence of fields with seemingly disparate interests, and shows why developmental robotics might prove to be beneficial for all fields involved. The methodology advocated is synthetic and two-pronged: on the one hand, it employs robots to instantiate models originating from developmental sciences; on the other hand, it aims to develop better robotic systems by exploiting insights gained from studies on ontogenetic development. This paper gives a survey of the relevant research issues and points to some future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses problems connected with a rationalistic approach in cognitive science and how connectionist models can solve them. Problems with popular connectionist models; Need for cognitive sciences which focuses on behavior as a result of the dynamics of system-environment interaction; Features of the distributed adapted control approach.

Core computer science is about virtual machines, whereas computer applications and robotics are about the real world. The hypothesis that we will pursue in this paper is that real‐world autonomous robots provide a tool that enables us to learn about how to design intelligent computer systems for the real world. They can teach us many powerful ideas about intelligence and computer systems in general. We will show a number of case studies illustrating how complex behaviors can be achieved by very simple mechanisms (e.g. how robots can clean up without knowing about it), and how robots learn to form concepts about the real world depending on how they are built. We also show how intelligence does not require central control and how the real world is not something to fight against, but something to live with and to exploit beneficially. We discuss how real‐world autonomous agents can be used to teach an interdisciplinary audience. Finally, we discuss potential ways in which ideas like the ones developed in this paper might eventually change computer science. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]