Presenting practical design guidelines for the creation of
non-numeric, autonomous cognitive machines, Robot Brains Circuits
and Systems for Conscious Machines examines in detail component
parts and realization principles and provides real-world examples
for designers, researchers, and advanced students in the field.
Author Haikonen introduces the topic of cognitive machines and
examines associative neural networks. The book also covers basic
circuit assemblies, perceptory processes required to understand the
cognitive system, motion perception, the concept of machine
emotions and "natural" language in robot brains, and how
all of these component parts are related to conscious machines.
This book presents practical design guidelines for the creation of
non-numeric, autonomous cognitive machines, examining in detail
component parts, realization principles and providing real-world
examples for designers, researchers and advanced students in the
field. Haikonen starts with an introduction to the topic of
cognitive machines before moving on to examine associative neural
networks, including a look at the limitations of traditional neural
associators. Following this, basic circuit assemblies are
described, as a building block for systems introduced later in the
book. The next chapter presents perceptory processes required to
understand the cognitive system, leading to a discussion of motion
perception, setting out how motors and moving parts can be
interfaced with the associative neural system in order that fluent
motion based on perceived affordances can be achieved without
numeric computations. The final chapters focus on the increasingly
complex issues related to cognitive machines, such as the concept
of machine emotions and 'natural' language in robot brains.
The last chapter explains how all of these component parts are
related to conscious machines.
Dr Pentti Haikonen is an experienced contributor to the field of machine consciousness, conducting research on the topic for over 10 years. He is currently a Principal Scientist in cognitive technology at the Nokia Research Center, Helsinki, and has written the book The Cognitive Approach to Conscious Machines (Imprint Academic, 2003) and the book chapter "Artificial Minds and Conscious Machines" in Visions of Mind: Architectures for Cognition and Affect (Idea Group Inc., 2005). Haikonen is known for putting forward the theory that "the brain is definitely not a computer. Thinking is not an execution of programmed strings of commands. The brain is not a numerical calculator either. We do not think by numbers." Rather than trying to achieve mind and consciousness by identifying and implementing their underlying computational rules, Haikonen proposes "a special cognitive architecture to reproduce the processes of perception, inner imagery, inner speech, pain, pleasure, emotions, and the cognitive functions behind these." He has given lectures on machine cognition at the Helsinki University of Technology and has several patents and patent applications on cognitive and neural systems.
Inhaltsangabe
Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Information, meaning and representation. 3. Associative neural networks. 4. Circuit assemblies. 5. Machine perception. 6. Motor actions for robots. 7. Machine cognition. 8. Machine emotions. 9. Natural language in robot brains. 10. A cognitive architecture for robot brains. 11. Machine consciousness. Epilogue. References. Index.
