Neurotechnologies Projects

The intrinsic dynamical properties expressed by complex neuronal systems, such as learning and memory, are not only the result of bi-directional interactions of the nervous system and the environment (e.g. sensory input / actuator output), but are also the result of the contributions of specialized and coordinated activities of inter-related large neuronal assemblies.

In addition, we will study the physiological features of the peripheral nervous system of the Octopus and the mechanisms of motor control of its arms to help designing highly flexible robotic and developing efficient control systems. The octopus is a marine invertebrate with amazing motor capabilities. Its body has no rigid structures and has interesting characteristics, from an engineering viewpoint: infinite number of degrees of freedom (DOFs), bending in many different directions, variable and controllable stiffness, high dexterity, fine manipulation, highly distributed control. The octopus represents a biological demonstration of how effective behavior in the real world is tightly related to the morphology of the body. The aim of this project is investigating and understanding the principles that give rise to the octopus sensory-motor capabilities and at incorporating them in new design approaches and ICT and robotics technologies.