Computer Science 444: Embedded / Robotic Programming

Unit 10: Unexpected Outcomes and Emergent Behaviour

What happens when a robot behaves in unexpected ways? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Can we predict unexpected outcomes or design for them in our robots? This unit explores emergent behaviour arising from unexpected outcomes.

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to

  • discuss unexpected outcomes and how they may occur in robots.
  • discuss emergent behaviours in robots.
  • design robots that might exhibit emergent behaviors and analyze how such emergent behaviours might arise.

Readings

Please read the following chapters in the textbook:

  • When the Unexpected Happens (Chapter 18)

Questions to Ponder

At the end of each chapter in the assigned readings there are questions labelled “Food for Thought”. Please answer these questions as best you can in your weblog, which will become part of your portfolio of competence submitted for marking during this course.

Exercises

Exercises for this unit can be found in the Instructor’s Weblog on the Landing. Please follow along with the exercises and programs using your own Arduino kit, and keep a record of your explorations in your own weblog.

Further Readings

At the end of each chapter in the assigned readings you will find a section titled “Looking for More.” While the links and readings mentioned in this section are not assigned, please feel free to examine them if you are interested, or ask questions on the Landing.

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