Preface

Abstract

Intelligence emerging from interactions between the body and the environment at the material and morphological levels attracts the attention of many different research communities. Researchers with engineering, social sciences, computer sciences, biology, and materials science backgrounds all study and understand embodied intelligence from their own perspectives. Therefore, providing a common definition of ‘Embodied Intelligence’ remains challenging.Furthermore, the intricate connection between the body and mind remains an unresolved philosophical question. Exploring this relationship not only deepens our understanding of animals and humans but also serves as a crucial element in the development of embodied artificial intelligence. By unraveling this connection, we can pave the way for creating robots endowed with practical intelligence. The long-standing philosophical debates surrounding consciousness have gained utmost significance in the realm of AI-powered machines.This book presents a comprehensive selection of papers authored by renowned researchers who participated in the 2nd International Conference on Embodied Intelligence held on 23-25 March, 2022, and the Embodied Intelligence Workshop, held at the RoboSoft 2022 Conference. This collection features reviews and perspectives articles, as well as the original research. The collection aims to stimulate interdisciplinary discussions and presenting novel ideas on the topic of Embodied Intelligence. By exploring the latest concepts and future directions in this field, these papers offer fresh perspectives and help paving the way for breakthroughs in both understanding and practical implementation.The central focus of this year’s conference revolved around two key topics: the significance of modeling in the design of soft robots and the pivotal role of the brain in embodied agents. The design of soft robots can follow a modeling-based approach using formal models and optimization techniques, similar to traditional rigid robotics. However, accurately modeling the behavior of soft robots is challenging. An exploratory approach inspired by biological organisms involves an iterative process, drawing insights from their locomotion and other behaviors. The role of the brain and central nervous system in bio-inspired robotics is significant, with self-organization and embodied intelligence allowing problem-solving without extensive centralized control. Researchers emulate cognitive processes observed in animals to develop intelligent robots, requiring advances in computational models and algorithms. Finding a good balance between exploiting the physical body and relying on computational capabilities remains an open topic of discussion.The book consists of a wide range of topics surrounding Embodied Intelligence and is loosely structured in two parts. The first set of chapters discuss the principles and perspectives on Embodied Intelligence and the links to robotics and artificial life. In the second half of the book, there is discussion on the connection between humans and Embodied Intelligence and the surrounding philosophy, psychology and cognitive science which ground and situate the research.We express our sincere gratitude to all the participants of the Conference and Workshop participants, the authors, and the reviewers for their outstanding contributions to this volume.