Title
Layered control architectures in robots and vertebrates
Abstract
We review recent research in robotics, neuroscience, evolutionary neurobiology, and ethology with the aim of highlighting some points of agreement and convergence. Specifically, we compare Brooks' (1986) subsumption architecture for robot control with research in neuroscience demonstrating layered control systems in vertebrate brains, and with research in ethology that emphasizes the decomposition of control into multiple, intertwined behavior systems. From this perspective we then describe interesting parallels between the subsumption architecture and the natural layered behavior system that determines defense reactions in the rat. We then consider the action selection problem for robots and vertebrates and argue that, in addition to subsumption-like conflict resolution mechanisms, the vertebrate nervous system employs specialized selection mechanisms located in a group of central brain structures termed the basal ganglia. We suggest that similar specialized switching mechanisms might be employed in layered robot control architectures to provide effective and flexible action selection.
Year
DOI
Venue
1999
10.1177/105971239900700105
Adaptive Behaviour
Keywords
Field
DocType
defense system,layered control architecture,basal ganglia.,behavior systems,subsumption architecture,action selection,brain evolution,action,nervous system,control system,robot control,conflict resolution
Robot control,Computer science,Conflict resolution,Artificial intelligence,Control system,Action selection,Ethology,Robot,Subsumption architecture,Robotics
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
7
1
1059-7123
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
45
4.10
16
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Tony J. Prescott110213.63
Peter Redgrave226128.32
Kevin N. Gurney344553.49