On the task distribution between control and mechanical systems: A case study with an amoeboid modular robot

This paper introduces our robotic case study which is intended to intensively investigate the neural-body coupling, i.e., how the task distribution between control and mechanical systems should be achieved, so as to emerge useful functionalities. One of the significant features of this case study is that we have employed a collective behavioral approach. More specifically, we have focused on an "embodied" coupled nonlinear oscillator system by which we have generated one of the most primitive yet flexible locomotion, i.e., amoeboid locomotion, in the hope that this primitiveness allows us to investigate the neural-body coupling effectively. Experiments we have conducted strongly support that there exists an "ecologically-balanced" task distribution, under which significant abilities such as real-time adaptivity emerge.