Controlling behavior in animals and robots
BIOENG-456 / 5 credits
Teacher: Ramdya Pavan P
Language: English
Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.
Summary
Students will acquire an integrative view on biological and artificial algorithms for controlling autonomous behaviors. Students will synthesize and apply this knowledge in oral presentations and computational exercises.
Content
During the first half of the course, each topic will be introduced by preparatory primary scientific literature readings that are expanded upon during lecture and followed by (i) a presentation and discussion of these papers by student groups and (ii) guided Python-based modeling exercises that are designed to test and consolidate knowledge. The last half of the course is a group mini-project working on analyzing new data. Lecture/presentation topics include:
• Defining behavior
• The body and behavior
• Taxis behaviors
• Neural networks
• Internal states
• Hierarchical control
Keywords
• behavior
• neuroscience
• neural networks
• flies
• robots
• embodiment
• sensing
• locomotion
• navigation
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
Python programming
Recommended courses
Neuroscience
Important concepts to start the course
Neuroscience
Robotics
Programming
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Recall neurobiological and robotic algorithms for behavior
- Draw network models capable of carrying out simple behaviors
- Implement computational models to execute specific behaviors
- Hypothesize how changes in morphology, mechanical properties, or underlying algorithms would influence behaviors expressed
- Recall
- Draw
- Implement
- Hypothesize
Transversal skills
- Identify the different roles that are involved in well-functioning teams and assume different roles, including leadership roles.
- Give feedback (critique) in an appropriate fashion.
- Make an oral presentation.
- Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
- Use both general and domain specific IT resources and tools
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
- Summarize an article or a technical report.
Teaching methods
For the first half of the semester:
Lectures per week, including a lecture by the professor as well as an oral presentation and guided discussion of primary scientific literature by a student group.
Exercises per week, including a guided programming-based simulation of behavioral control algorithms (problem solving, model building, project execution and presentation)
This first half of the course is consolidated and evaluated by a midterm exam.
For the second half of the semester: A group-based miniproject that is guided through lectures on data analysis and finalized through the submission of a Project Report and Presentation.
Expected student activities
Students are expected to attend lectures, actively engage in exercises, summarize and present a scientific study, participate in group discussions, and perform a miniproject in a group.
Assessment methods
Continued assessment during the semester.
Supervision
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | Yes |
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Controlling behavior in animals and robots
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Controlling behavior in animals and robots
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Controlling behavior in animals and robots
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Controlling behavior in animals and robots
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Controlling behavior in animals and robots
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Controlling behavior in animals and robots
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Controlling behavior in animals and robots
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional