This paper describes ongoing research into the role of optic-flow derived spatial representations and their relation to cognitive computational models of mental rotation in primates, with the goal of producing effective and unique autonomous robot navigational capabilities. A theoretical framework is outlined based on a vectorial interlingua spanning perception, cognition and motor control. Pro...

Learning is a fundamental component of intelligence, and a key consideration in designing cognitive architectures such as Soar [Laird et al., 1986]. This chapter considers the question of what constitutes an appropriate general-purpose learning mechanism. We are interested in mechanisms that might explain and reproduce the rich variety of learning capabilities of humans, ranging from learning p...

This paper describes ongoing research into the role of optic-flow derived spatial representations and their relation to cognitive computational models of mental rotation in primates, with the goal of producing effective and unique autonomous robot navigational capabilities. A theoretical framework is outlined based on a vectorial interlingua spanning perception, cognition and motor control. Pro...

We describe the first robot designed to emulate specific perceptual and motor capabilities of the fiddler crab. An omnidirectional robot platform uses onboard computation to process images from a 360◦ camera view, filtering it through a biological model of the crab’s ommatidia layout, extracting potential ‘predator’ cues, and executing an evasion response that also depends on contextual informa...

The great popularity and rapid diffusion of mobile technologies at worldwide level has also been recognized by the public sector, leading to the creation of m-Government. A major challenge for m-Government is accessibility – the provision of an equal service to all citizens irrespective of their psychical, mental or technical capabilities. This paper sketches the profiles of six citizen groups:...

One trend in Human Computer Interaction is to extend the sensory-motor capabilities of computer systems to better match the natural communication means of humans. Although the multiplicity of modalities opens a vast world of experience, our understanding of how they relate to each other is still unclear and the terminology is unstable. In this paper we present our definitions and existing frame...

Precision analog-to-digital converters are popularly used in many applications, such as instrumentation and measurement, PLM, process control, and motor control. Current SAR ADCs go up to 18-bit or even higher resolution at x-MSPS, while Σ-Δ ADCs can be 24or 32-bit resolution at hundreds of kSPS. Users are facing more and more difficulties in limiting the signal chain noise, like in implementin...

The computer world is experiencing a paradigm shift towards context-aware pervasive computing, where diverse computer devices communicate with each other through different network access technologies, and allow resource access based on user preferences. P2P computing is an area which will be affected by this new trend. In this paper, we proposed a resource replication strategy for context-aware...

Beyond 3G usually refers to heterogeneous scenarios where different Radio Access Technologies (RATs) coexist and operate in a coordinated way. This brings a new challenge to offer services to the users over an efficient and ubiquitous radio access. In this way, the user can be served through the RAT that fits better to the terminal capabilities and service requirements, and also a more efficien...