A Scalable Neuro-inspired Robot Controller Integrating a Machine Learning Algorithm and a Spiking Cerebellar-Like Network

Combining Fable robot, a modular robot, with a neuroinspired controller, we present the proof of principle of a system that can scale to several neurally controlled compliant modules. The motor control and learning of a robot module are carried out by a Unit Learning Machine (ULM) that embeds the Locally Weighted Projection Regression algorithm (LWPR) and a spiking cerebellar-like microcircuit. The LWPR guarantees both an optimized representation of the input space and the learning of the dynamic internal model (IM) of the robot. However, the cerebellar-like sub-circuit integrates LWPR input-driven contributions to deliver accurate corrective commands to the global IM. This article extends the earlier work by including the Deep Cerebellar Nuclei (DCN) and by reproducing the Purkinje and the DCN layers using a spiking neural network (SNN) implemented on the neuromorphic SpiNNaker platform. The performance and robustness outcomes from the real robot tests are promising for neural control scalability.