Robot bugs

Insects provide inspiration into robotic improvements.

Insects are providing a model for creating a new generation of robots whose visual, audio and tactile sensors can determine their movements autonomously and provide the framework for the robots to ‘learn’ new behaviour.

The EU-funded SPARC (spatial-temporal array computer based structure) is software architecture based on the fundamental functions of the insect brain. The team have created an architecture for the artificial cognitive systems that has the potential to significantly increase the ability of robots to react to changing environmental conditions and to ‘learn’ behaviour in response to external stimuli.

The development could have use in future military applications; for example, a robot travelling in unknown territory would be able to adapt to their own way of moving across a flat, rocky or wet ground based on their own perception without any human interaction.

Robot feelers

SPARC software architecture would enhance the robot’s ability to use information derived from its visual, audio and tactile sensors, which form a dynamically evolving pattern. This pattern is in turn used to determine the movements of the device.

“The SPARC architecture is a starting step towards emulating the essential perception-action architecture of living beings, where some basic behaviours are inherited, like escaping or feeding, while others are incrementally learned, leading to the emergence of higher cognitive abilities,” said Paolo Arena, the project coordinator.

The project has received funding from the EU's Sixth Framework Programme for research.

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