A simulation toolbox for bioinspired robotics

Project Abstract

<p> There is a multitude of software available for mathematical simulation, however there is no tool aimed specifically at roboticists. This project provides such a tool, designed around the terminology and research methodologies used by those interested in using biologically inspired models of neural networks to create a richer breed of robots. The simulation environment created offers tools for visualising, manipulating and recording experiments in real time, offering insight into modelling possibilities which may be suitable for robot based control systems.<br>Also presented is some research, using the simulator created, aimed at suggesting some new possibilities for cause of a phenomenon found in many real neural cells. Neural cells are often found to control the activity of other neural cells, and the mechanisms which permit that control are investigated.<br>The results show that previous conclusions about the behaviour of neurons in such scenarios may have been restricted to only a subset of cases. They also demonstrate the difficulty facing roboticists who wish to use complex models to control artificial hardware. <br></p>

Project Overview