1998/01/01 by Andrew Duchon, Leslie Pack Kaelbling, William H. Warren · 1 voice · 2 citations
Computer Science · Neuroscience · #Memory and Neural Mechanisms #Neural dynamics and brain function #Robotic Path Planning Algorithms
paper · doi:10.1177/105971239800600306
openalex publication_date 1998/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
There are striking parallels between ecological psychology and the new trends in robotics and computer vision, particularly regarding how agents interact with the environment. We present some ideas from ecological psychology, including control laws using optic flow, affordances, and action modes, and describe our implementation of these concepts in two mobile robots that can avoid obstacles and chase or flee moving targets solely by using optic flow. The properties of these methods were explored further in simulation. This work ties in with that of others who argue for a methodological approach in robotics that forgoes a central model or planner. Not only might ecological psychology contribute to robotics, but robotic implementations might, in turn, provide a test bed for ecological principles and a source of ideas that could be tested in animals and humans.