Imitation of animal behavior with use of a model of consciousness-behavior relation for a small robot

Abstract

This paper proposes an approach to designing behavior and its subjective world of a small robot to behave like an animal. This approach employs a hierarchical model of the relation between consciousness and behavior. The basic idea of this model is that a consciousness appears on a level in the hierarchical structure when an action on an immediately lower level is inhibited for internal or external causes, and that the appearing consciousness drives a chosen higher action. The computer simulation on a Mac shows the behavior of an artificial animal from reflex actions to catching of food. Its instantaneous consciousness that appears due to inhibited behavior is visualized with the behavior on the screen with use of colors according to emotions of the animal.