Homework

Individual Project #2

Inital draft (HW #10): due Tue Apr 21
Final version (Proj #2): due MONDAY May 4

This assignment is part 1 of your final class project, in which you will create a 'virtual pet' incorporating many of the information processing principles that we have covered in class this semester.

The project will span three weeks. This week you will come up with the draft design features and develop a preliminary version of your NetLogo simulation that incorporates at least three of these features (HW #10 due TUE Apr 21).

The following two weeks, you will work on completing and polishing your project. Your final project must be turned in **MONDAY** MAY 4 (NOTE CHANGE IN DAY).

You will 'demo' your virtual pet project to your classmates on the last day of class, TUE MAY 5.

To get started on your project, look at the 'Guidelines' tab.

Answer the questions found on the 'Assignment' tab and email your responses along with a copy of the netlogo file to mcb419@gmail.com with 'hw10' in the Subject line.

This assignment is due by 11:59PM (midnight) on Tue, Apr 21.

Design Guidelines for your Intelligent Virtual Pet(s)

The goal for your final project is to use your creativity and imagination to create an 'intelligent' virtual pet and its virtual environment in NetLogo.

Your pet should incorporate and integrate several of the information processing principles we've discussed in class this semester. Your project might take inspiration from actual pets (fish in an aquarium, ants in an ant farm, dogs, cats, hamsters, etc.), or you can create your own imaginary species.

You can have multiple individuals and multiple species in the environment. The project evaluation (see below) will be based on the properties of the most intelligent species in your project (the one that incorporates the most information processing features).

The final project is worth 5 points: 4 points for implementation and 1 point for your in-class presentation on May 5.

The draft version (HW #10) of your project is worth 3 points and requires a preliminary design specification, and a preliminary version of your NetLogo simulation that implements at least three of the features listed below.

Implementation points for final project (4 POINTS MAX)

• 0.5 points for implementing some form of KINESIS or TAXIS
   
  
• 0.5 points for some slow MODULATORY PROCESS, in which the parameters of a faster process are altered in a time- or context-dependent manner (e.g. time since last meal, environmental light levels, etc.)
   
  
• 0.5 points for implementing a behavior the requires MULTIMODAL INTEGRATION of signals from two different sensory modalities.
   
  
• 0.5 points for implementing some form of MOTOR PATTERN GENERATION
   
  
• 0.5 points for implementing some form of HEIRARCHICAL ACTION SELECTION
   
  
• 0.5 points for implementing and utilizing some form of MEMORY
   
  
• 0.5 points for implementing and utilizing some form of CIRCADIAN CLOCK
   
  
• 1.0 points for implementing some form of ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING
   
  
• 1.0 points for implementing some form of ACTIVE SENSING
   
  
• 1.0 points for implementing some form of COMMUNICATION
   
  
• 1.0 points for implementing some form of EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
   
  
• 1.0 points for implementing some form of SPATIAL NAVIGATION (dead reckoning, landmark recognition, cognitive maps, etc.)
   
  
• 1.0 points for implementing a means for your pets to EVOLVE
   
  
• 0.5 points for ORIGINALITY (graphical design, controller architecture, etc.)
   
  

In-class presentation (1 POINT)

On Tuesday, May 5, each student will give a 5-minute presentation of their virtual pet to the class. This will be in the form of a NetLogo demonstration using the classroom computer, or the student's own laptop. During the demo, the presenter should illustrate how the information processing features listed above are integrated into their pet's behavioral repertoire.

Assignment

You can access a copy of the assignment file HERE, or copy and paste from the text below.

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MCB 419 Homework 10 (Spring 2009)

When you've finished answering all the questions, email a copy 
of this file (hw10.txt) along with your NetLogo file (hw10.nlogo)
to mcb419@gmail.com with 'hw10' in the Subject line. 

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1. Provide a brief description of the VIRTUAL PET SCENARIO you
   envision.  Describe it from the perspective of an outside
   observer (not from the perspective of controller design).


2. Provide a DESIGN OVERVIEW of the information processing aspects
   of your virtual pet.  (If your implementing multiple species, 
   just provide details for the 'most intelligent' species... the one 
   that will incorporate the most information processing principles.)
   List each of the specific implementation features from the 
   'Guidelines' tab that you plan to incorporate and provide a 1-2 
   sentence summary of how each of these features are expected to 
   influence your pet's behavior.



3. From the list of intended information processing features that you 
   provided in #2 above, which THREE have you implemented in this 
   week's draft version of the NetLogo code?



4. Do you have any specific questions or want feedback on any 
   particular aspects of your intended design?
   



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END OF THE ASSIGNMENT
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