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Nervous System

Nervous System

The nervous system coordinates body functions through its complex network of nerve cells, enabling sensation and movement. It is divided into two primary parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain acts as the body's control center, processing sensory information and coordinating responses. The spinal cord functions as a major signaling pathway for the brain and the rest of the body.

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Mechanical Systems

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Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically...

Electro-mechanical Systems

Electro-mechanical Systems

Electromechanical systems are intricate configurations that effectively combine electrical and mechanical elements to achieve a desired outcome. Central to many of these systems is the DC motor, a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, enabling various applications ranging from simple fans to complex robotic mechanisms.
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Cruise control systems in cars are designed as multi-input systems to maintain a driver's desired speed while compensating for external disturbances such as changes in terrain. The block diagram for a cruise control system typically includes two main inputs: the desired speed set by the driver and any external disturbances, such as the incline of the road. By adjusting the engine throttle, the system maintains the vehicle's speed as close to the desired value as possible.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Designing and Implementing Nervous System Simulations on LEGO Robots

Designing and Implementing Nervous System Simulations on LEGO Robots

Published on: May 25, 2013

Mergeable nervous systems for robots.

Nithin Mathews¹, Anders Lyhne Christensen², Rehan O'Grady¹

¹IRIDIA, CoDE, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, 1050, Belgium.

Nature Communications

|September 14, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents modular robots that merge and split, forming new entities with unified control. These adaptable robots can self-heal, offering unprecedented morphological changes beyond natural organisms.

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Area of Science:

Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
Morphological Computation

Background:

Modular robots offer potential for lifetime morphological adaptation.
Current modular robots have limited behaviors due to distributed control.
A need exists for robots capable of autonomous self-assembly and reconfiguration.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop modular robots with integrated bodies and control systems that can merge and split.
To enable robots to form new entities retaining full sensorimotor control.
To achieve autonomous changes in robot size, form, and function.

Main Methods:

Design of modular robots with unified body and control systems.
Implementation of a control paradigm allowing merging and splitting.
Development of self-healing capabilities through part replacement.

Main Results:

Robots successfully merged to form larger bodies with centralized control.
Robots split into independent bodies with individual controllers.
Demonstrated self-healing by removing/replacing malfunctioning parts.
Achieved seamless sensorimotor control in merged and split states.

Conclusions:

The presented control paradigm enables robots to exhibit emergent properties surpassing existing machines and organisms.
This approach facilitates robots that can autonomously alter their size, form, and function.
The work advances towards highly adaptable and self-reconfiguring robotic systems.