Refinement: a rigorous description of autonomous adaptive agents.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical framework to empirically test for cognitive behaviour in autonomous adaptive agents. Design/methodology/approach – This project proposes a theoretical framework, or design parameters, inspired by empirically observed phenomena, cognitive behaviours, and thermodynamics. Success of the framework is measured by its capacity to implement, not just a model of select attributes of cognition, but to implement the foundational physical nature of cognition of which all observed behaviours are based. Findings – A rigorous mathematical framework, employing only information theory and conventional physics, is hypothesized to empirically measure for cognitive behaviours. Research limitations/implications – Empirical studies will be conducted on synthetic agents using the theoretical framework described herein to demonstrate whether or not cognitive behaviours have been achieved. Originality/value – This paper proposes an alternative form of information processing inspired by evolved organisms, distinct from Turing equivalent machines, able to augment existing human and digital systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]