Type:
Simulator

Hardware:
FPGA based hardware called a CBM (CAM-Brain Machine) consisting of 72 micro-processors (32,000 evolved neural network modules, where each module has up to 1,152 neurons) configured to implement a 3-dimensional neural network. Such highly parallel architecture allows the CBM to process artificial neural networks algorithms extremely quickly. This brain will be used to control the behaviors of a kitten robot that is called "Robokoneko".

Software:
A commercial software simulation package "Working Model 3D" by Knowledge Revolution Inc. is currently being used to simulate some of the behaviors of the robot kitten. Successfully evolved behavioral control modules will be downloaded into the RAM brain.

Sensors:
The kitten will be able to see, hear, and feel. Its behaviours, such as walking and playing with a ball etc, will be remotely controlled via a radio link. All of these behaviours will be evolved, rather than pre-programmed by a human operator.

Locomotion:
Detailed diagram can be found at http://www.genobyte.com/images/ROBOKONEKO/CHART1.JPG

Chasis:

Other:
Recent work is looking towards designing and building a second generation CAM-Brain Machine (CBM-2) possibly based on Xilinx's "Virtex" chip (a million gate programmable logic device) to be built by the end of 2001, which can handle a million modules and a billion artificial neurons. Building an artificial brain with up to a billion neurons by 2001 has always been the goal of the CAM-Brain project since it was started in 1993. More info: STARLAB's Artificial Brain Project (Prof. Dr. Hugo de Garis) and Genobyte (CBM Manufacturer, Dr. Michael Korkin)

Estimated cost:

Time spent:

Submitted by:
Doug Bard

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