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I think you're missing the point. I think it's to demonstrate that fully mechanical systems can learn and react like a real brain plus muscles and sensors. The
by bufferoverflow 4y ago
I think you're missing the point. I think it's to demonstrate that fully mechanical systems can learn and react like a real brain plus muscles and sensors.
The possible implication is, if consciousness can arise in a digital neural net, it can also arise in a mechanical system, you just need enough of levers and gears connected in a certain way.
- djokkataja 4y ago> I think it's to demonstrate that fully mechanical systems can learn and react like a real brain plus muscles and sensors. That wasn't the point of the research as expressed in the article (note that the final image has a label for "Control electronics" underneath the mechanical system): > Thus, this work lays the foundation for artificial-intelligent (AI) materials that can learn behaviors and properties. With applications such as: > use in aircraft wings to morph the shape in response to wind patterns to boost efficiency, adding reactive rigidity to buildings to better withstand earthquakes and other disasters, shockwave-deflecting reactive armor, or even the creation of surfaces able to perform acoustic imaging.
- betwixthewires 4y agoWell of course they have useful applications in mind. But it does demonstrate something interesting: computation occurs naturally, on the "bare metal" of the universe, and systems can be built that perform computation that do not require an abstraction or purpose built computing device.