Announcement: IEE Workshop on cerebellar control (London, Feb. 15)

[Patrick van der Smagt]

			WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT
			=====================
			Self-learning robots III
	Brainstyle robotics: The cerebellum beyond function approximation 
	http://www.robotic.dlr.de/Smagt/workshop/iee99.html

	A Workshop organised by Professional Group A9 (Neural computing)
	Monday 15 February 1999, Savoy Place, London, UK

Patrick van der Smagt (Institute of Robotics and System Dynamics, DLR),
	workshop co-organiser
Noel Sharkey (University of Sheffield),
	workshop co-organiser 


Throughout the years there has been extensive research in the structure
and working of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is a part of the brain of
vertebrates that is well understood in various aspects:

The cerebellum is used for the spatial motor coordination of fast
movements.  High precision of the movement is an important issue.  The
structure of the cerebellum is well-understood: the cells as well as
their connections are known. Also the connections to the other parts of
the brain and spine are understood.  The learning process is
well-understood since 1992.

The 'traditional' neural approach for robot control typically consists
of some form of function approximation. We gather a large amount of
learning samples, and try to represent those as well as possible with
some (universal or specialized) approximator. The major differences lie
there where the choice of approximator is concerned.

Does the cerebellum do something different? 

Many special issues and workshops focusing on brain models for robot
control reflect the increased attention of the development of
cerebellar models. But what can we expect of such models in the
future?  Is the cerebellum is 'just' a function approximator, and can
we mimic its functionality using other models?

In this workshop we will focus on 'working' models of the cerebellum;
how far have we come? Can real applications be expected in the near
future? Can cerebellar models do better than others? Are brainstyle
robotics something to expect in the near future?

Programme
 09.00 
       Registration and Coffee
 09.30
       Welcome
 09.40
       Overview of cerebellar control 
       Patrick van der Smagt (Institute of Robotics and System Dynamics, DLR)
 10.20
       The cerebellum and visually controlled movements
       Chris Miall (University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford)
 11.00
       The cerebellum as a neuronal machine
       David Willshaw (University of Edinburgh)
 11.40
       Recurrent disinhibition implements a pointer-map module
       between cerebellar basket and Purkinje cells
       Klaus Hepp (Institute of Theoretical Physics, ETH Z"urich)
 12.20
       Lunch
 13.20
       Computational Delays and Habits
       Guido Bugmann (University of Plymouth)
 14.00
       Learning to Reach Via Corrective Movements
       Andrew Barto (University of Massachusetts)
 15.00
       Tea
 15.15
       Cerebellar vs. stiffness control
       Pietro Morasso (Universit'a di Genova)
 15.55
       Panel discussion
 16.30
       Close


To register for the above event, please contact:
	Events Office, IEE, Savoy Place,
        London WC2R 0BL, tel: +44 (0)171 240 1871 ext: 2205/6, 
        fax: +44 (0)171 497 3633 or email: events at iee.org.uk 

-- 
dr Patrick van der Smagt                phone +49 8153 281152, fax -34
DLR/Institute of Robotics and System Dynamics             smagt at dlr.de
P.O.Box 1116, 82230 Wessling, Germany     http://www.robotic.de/Smagt/