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Biorobotics

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Springer Handbook of Model-Based Science

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Abstract

Starting from a reflection on the various roles played by simulations in scientific research, this chapter provides an overview of the biorobotic strategy for testing mechanistic explanations of animal behavior. After briefly summarizing the history and state of the art of biorobotics, it also addresses some key epistemological and methodological issues that need to be taken into serious consideration when setting up and performing biorobotic experiments. These issues mainly concern the relationship between the biorobot and the theoretical model under investigation, the choice of criteria for comparing animal and robotic behaviors, and the pros and cons of computer versus robotic simulations.

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Abbreviations

AI:

artificial intelligence

MG:

mechanism governing

MI:

mechanism implemented

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  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Umane per la Formazione “R.Massa”, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milano, Italy

    Edoardo Datteri

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    Lorenzo Magnani  & Tommaso Bertolotti  & 

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Datteri, E. (2017). Biorobotics. In: Magnani, L., Bertolotti, T. (eds) Springer Handbook of Model-Based Science. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30526-4_37

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