Here is the title of a (I think) great book on mobile robots:
Jonathan H. Connell, "Minimalist Mobile Robotics:
A Colony-style Architecture for an Artificial Creature"
Academic Press, 1990.
This is the published version of Connells thesis and details a mobile robot
that wanders the hallways of his University looking for empty drink cans,
collecting them and returning them to a central location. Control is by a
loosely coupled network of small (1Mhz 8-bit from memory) processors -
about nine of them I think.
There's a good section on behaviour driven systems (seeing the list posted
by Robin O'Leary prompted my memory of this book). There a good example
given of a snail that has what appears to be quite complex navigation and
goal oriented behaviour and is actually acting on 2 or 3 very simple rules.
Teaching our Mowbots the exact dimensions of our yards and how to navigate
it is probably much less useful than teaching it what to cut and not cut,
how to seek food (recharge) and self preservation (avoid damage/theft).
"Teaching" is used here a substitute for design/program/build.
Look for this book in your nearest university library - they should be able
to get it on inter-library loan if they don't have it.
The other reference is of course:
"Mobile Robotics: Inspiration to Implementation"
A. Flynn & ??
Someone want to fill in the blanks - I don't have my copy here.
That's all for now.
Best regards,
Dominic Peterson Email: d.peterson nospam at qut.edu.au
(c) 1996 - Copyright remains with the author unless explicitly stated
-- All opinions are mine and do not reflect those of the University --