Bio-Inspired Artificial Intelligence: Theories, Methods, and Technologies

by Director Dario Floreano, Claudio Mattiussi

New approaches to artificial intelligence spring from the idea that intelligence emerges as much from cells, bodies, and societies as it does from evolution, development, and learning. Traditionally, artificial intelligence has been concerned with reproducing the abilities of human brains; newer approaches take inspiration from a wider range of biological structures that that are capable of autonomous self-organization. Examples of these new approaches include evolutionary computation and evolutionary electronics, artificial neural networks, immune systems, biorobotics, and swarm intelligence--to mention only a few. This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the emerging field of biologically inspired artificial intelligence that can be used as an upper-level text or as a reference for researchers. Each chapter presents computational approaches inspired by a different biological system; each begins with background information about the biological system and then proceeds to develop computational models that make use of biological concepts. The chapters cover evolutionary computation and electronics; cellular systems; neural systems, including neuromorphic engineering; developmental systems; immune systems; behavioral systems--including several approaches to robotics, including behavior-based, bio-mimetic, epigenetic, and evolutionary robots; and collective systems, including swarm robotics as well as cooperative and competitive co-evolving systems. Chapters end with a concluding overview and suggested reading.

Genres: Artificial Intelligence, Science, Nonfiction, Computer Science, Textbooks, Evolution

659 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2008

Reviews

[Navid Asmari Saadabad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A broad review of the various methods and instruments that have been used in multitudes of projects to create artificial intelligence. Although the authors have not presented a clear definition for artificial intelligence, they claim that various parts of the book represent the different viewpoints and applications of what is called “Bio-inspired Artificial Intelligence.” As an individual interested in the multi-faceted topic of evolutionary intelligence, I believe that bio-inspired artificial intelligence acts as a summarizing paper that comprises some of the most fascinating and state-of-the-art fields, each of which is an intersection of neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and computer sciences.
Unlike most of the available textbooks that try to cover these intelligent methods, understanding the contents does not require a strong knowledge in computer science, physics, or biology. The formulations are presented in a very easy-to-comprehend method and the mathematical terms are fully explained upon their first appearance. It can work both as a starter and as a detailed summarizing article.
The textbook can be divided into two separate sections: section 1 that includes chapters 1 to 5 and covers some of the basic elements of intelligent systems, section 2 that includes chapters 6 and 7 and provides a somewhat brief introduction to the latest research and projects on development of intelligent robotics. It is not possible to follow the last two chapters selectively, unless the reader has a brief background in evolutionary algorithms, neural networks, and developmental systems which constitute the basic components of section 1.
Supplementary materials of the book including slides and exercises can be found at http://baibook.epfl.ch.

[Mangoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive textbook on its topic. Rather verbose, but well structured. Its scope is very broad and it may even appear pretentious, as entire books can be written on each of its 7 chapters. Each chapter is nonetheless quite long, introduces the topic with a gradual progression of details and sophistications, and surveys most of the relevant work done in the field (up to 2008). In addition, it provides a rather vast set of references to further dig all topics and related material, and sometimes boxes are introduced and dedicated to selected, multi-disciplinary topics.
In short, a precious book for people interested in this huge, expanding (if sometime abused) field.

[Dav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best biology book I've read. Since it is targeted at AI engineers such that each examination of a biological system is followed by engineering applications, it uses a systems-oriented explanatory approach which I found easier to follow than the usual biologist-targeted text. The section on the immune system was fascinating! It is hard to imagine another book on this subject that could cover the breadth and depth any better. I need to check it out one more time to finish the last two sections, but I've read enough to heartily recommend it to any comsci people who are looking for broad yet detailed survey of this space.

[Michiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book! Discusses some of the most important fields in and methods in AI with the complexity in biology as a red line (from methods inspired by evolution, to cells, to development ending with behaviour of groups of organisms).
Has a lot of examples, most of them dealing with robotics (I myself am a bioscience engineer/bioinformatician and would have liked to see some other applications).
Not very heavy on its math, basic high-school calculus would suffice to understand most concepts in some detail.

[Marcus Österberg]

Gedigen genomgång av ämnet. Inget man direkt kan hasta igenom.