Biography

Richard J. Duro received a M.S. degree in Physics and a PhD from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in 1989, and 1992 respectively. He is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and head of the Integrated Group for Engineering Research at the University of A Coruña. His current research interests focus on cognitive and autonomous robotics from a developmental perspective as well as on the application of intelligent approaches to the solution of problems in different engineering fields.

Abstract

Motivation, memory and attention: a triumvirate for open-ended learning and development

The presentation is concerned with some of the work started within the DREAM European Project on the mutual interaction between Motivation, memory and attention and how this interaction can be exploited for development and operation within an intrinsic motivation based open-ended learning system. The requirements of a memory structure to support these processes, our approach to a motivational engine and how attentional systems help to structure their operation will be discussed. Examples of some of the mechanisms we have explored, for instance, to perceptually recall utility models as guesses for new situations, to allow for goal chaining within the memory structure or even to address the higher level modulation of utility representations in order to go from operation over continuous and large state/action spaces and progressively move towards higher level structures defined over smaller and discrete state/action spaces will be considered. All of them will be illustrated by experiments on a real robotic setup involving different contexts.