Animal and robotic collective behaviours can exhibit complex dynamics that require multi-level descriptions. Here, we are interested in developing a multi-level modeling framework for the use of robots in studies about animal collective decision-making. In this context, using robots can be useful for validating models in silico, inducing calibrated repetitive stimuli to trigger animal responses...

Two-dimensional motion sensors use electronic accelerometers to record the lying, standing and walking activity of cattle. Movement behaviour data collected automatically using these sensors over prolonged periods of time could be of use to stakeholders making management and disease control decisions in rural sub-Saharan Africa leading to potential improvements in animal health and production. ...

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.08.005 0003-3472/© 2017 The Association for the Study of A The social environment is a pervasive influence on the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of animal populations. Recently, social network analysis has provided an increasingly powerful and diverse toolset to enable animal behaviour researchers to quantify the social environment of animals and t...

This paper is concerned with issues relating to the source of reward and reinforcement with potential application to various robot learning and behaviour shaping situations (Dorigo and Colombetti, 1994; Lin, 1991, Maclin and Shavlik, 1996). The conventional approach to behaviour shaping by reinforcement learning is to present “reward” to an animal, animat or robot immediately following the perf...

University of Ljubljana Faculty of Computer and Information Science Iztok Lebar Bajec Fuzzy Model for a Computer Simulation of Bird Flocking One of the most obvious observations that can be made about the natural world is that it is based on dynamics. Indeed the latter is as present in nature (fluids, animal groups, etc.) as it is in man-made systems (vehicle traffic, autonomous robots, etc.). ...

It is desirable to increase the frequency between livestock welfare assessments to enhance problem identification and consumer confidence in livestock welfare management. However, animal welfare is difficult to monitor in practice, due to the inefficiencies involved in manually documenting and determining, animal behaviour, social interaction and health condition of large numbers of animals. Fu...

'Conservation behaviour' is a young discipline that investigates how proximate and ultimate aspects of the behaviour of an animal can be of value in preventing the loss of biodiversity. Rumours of its demise are unfounded. Conservation behaviour is quickly building a capacity to positively influence environmental decision making. The theoretical framework used by animal behaviourists is uniquel...

NOTICE: this is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Animal Behaviour. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was s...

Behavioural studies are of great importance in increasing our understanding and appreciation of animals. In addition to providing knowledge about the diversity and complexity of behaviour in nature, such studies also provide information crucial to improvements in thewelfare of animals maintained in laboratories, agricultural settings and zoos, and as companion animals. The use of animals in beh...