(Nov 17) Future Developments in Neurorobotic Technology

Neurorobotics is an emerging field of research at the intersection of robotics and neuroscience. By embedding simulated models of the brain in robotic bodies, it defines a unique and powerful experimental interface between both disciplines. Brain researchers thereby get access to a novel type of methodology which allows them to evaluate their models during interaction with real-world environments. At the same time, roboticists can directly employ neuroscientific theory for new algorithms and learning methods in robot cognition and control. Research on embodiment further provides strong evidence that the close coupling of neural learning and closed-loop environmental interaction will give way to powerful learning algorithms. The Neurorobotics subproject of the Human Brain Project fosters this synergistic loop by developing both the theory and the tools which will enable scientists and engineers to connect latest state-of-the-art brain simulations to both virtual and physical robots. The results of this research are made publicly available in the Neurorobotics Platform, an advanced robotic simulation environment which offers the interfaces, workflows and tools required to design, execute, and evaluate neurorobotic experiments. The platform integrates and links the theoretical models, brain simulations, neuromorphic chip designs, and supercomputer technology which is developed within the Human Brain Project. This lecture gives an introduction to neurorobotics and highlights future developments in neurorobotic technology. Participants will learn about the huge diversity of neurorobotic research which ranges from early simple models of robot control which are based on only a few neurons to the state-of-the-art closed-loop integration of large-scale brain simulations with detailed models of physical bodies. Based on this overview, the lecture highlights the open challenges in neurorobotics research how they will be addressed in the future development of the Neurorobotics Platform of the Human Brain Project.