The Logic of Biological Inspired Robotics

Martin Hülse, Mark Lee

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Proceeding (Non-Journal item)

42 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Biologically inspired robotics is a well known approach for the design of autonomous intelligent robot systems. Very often it is assumed that biologically inspired models successfully implemented on robots offer new scientific knowledge for biology too. In other words, robots experiments serving as a replacement for the biological system under investigation are assumed to provide new scientific knowledge for biology. This article is a critical investigation of this assumption. We begin by clarifying what we mean by 'new scientific knowledge.' Following Karl Popper's work the The Logic of Scientific Discovery we conclude that in general robotic experiments serving as replacement for biological systems can never directly deliver any new scientific knowledge for biology. We further argue that there is no formal guideline which defines the level of 'biological plausibility' for biologically inspired robot implementations. Therefore, there is no reason to prefer some kind of robotic setup before others. Any claimed relevance for biology, however, is only justified if results from robotic experiments are translated back into new models and hypotheses amenable to experimental tests within the domain of biology. This translation 'back' into biology is very often missing and we will discuss popular robotics frameworks in the context of Brain Research, Cognitive Science and Developmental Robotics in order to highlight this issue. Nonetheless, such frameworks are valuable and important, like pure mathematics, because they might lead to new formalisms and methods which in future might be essential for gaining new scientific knowledge if applied in biology. No one can tell, if and which of the current robotics frameworks will provide these new scientific tools. What we can already say–the main message of this article–is that robot systems serving as a replacement for biological systems won’t be sufficient for the test of biological models, i.e. gaining new scientific knowledge in biology.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Symposium on AI-Inspired Biology
EditorsJ. Chappell, S. Thorpe, N. Hawes, A. Sloman
Pages43 - 50
Number of pages8
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2010
EventInternational Symposium on AI-Inspired Biology - Leicester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Duration: 29 Mar 201001 Apr 2010

Conference

ConferenceInternational Symposium on AI-Inspired Biology
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
CityLeicester
Period29 Mar 201001 Apr 2010

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Logic of Biological Inspired Robotics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this