The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics
In recent studies, robots are used to stimulate living systems in controlled experimental settings. This research strategy is here called interactive biorobotics, to distinguish it from classical biorobotics, in which robots are used to simulate, rather than to stimulate, living system behavior. Thi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00637/full |
| _version_ | 1818292774000132096 |
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| author | Edoardo Datteri |
| author_facet | Edoardo Datteri |
| author_sort | Edoardo Datteri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent studies, robots are used to stimulate living systems in controlled experimental settings. This research strategy is here called interactive biorobotics, to distinguish it from classical biorobotics, in which robots are used to simulate, rather than to stimulate, living system behavior. This article offers a methodological analysis of interactive biorobotics and has two goals. The first one is to argue that interactive biorobotics is methodologically different, in some important respects, from classical biorobotics and from countless instances of model-based science. It will be shown that interactive biorobotics does not conform to the so-called “understanding by building” approach or synthetic method, and that it illustrates a novel use of models in science. The second goal is to reflect on the logic of interactive biorobotics. A distinction will be made between two classes of studies, which will be called “proximal” and “distal.” In proximal studies, experiments involving robot-animal interaction are brought to bear on theoretical hypotheses on robot-animal interaction. In distal studies, experiments involving robot-animal interaction are brought to bear on theoretical hypotheses on animal-animal interaction. Distal studies involve logical steps which may be particularly hard to justify. This distinction, together with a methodological reflection on the relationship between the context in which the experiments are carried out and the context in which the conclusions are expected to hold, will lead to a checklist of questions which may be useful to justify and evaluate the validity of interactive biorobotics studies. The reconstruction of the logic of interactive biorobotics made here, though preliminary, may contribute to justifying the important role that robots, as tool for stimulating living systems, can play in the contemporary life sciences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:05:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-522e62ec4c3a48d98070db69bfde7ff8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T03:05:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-522e62ec4c3a48d98070db69bfde7ff82022-12-22T00:01:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852020-07-01810.3389/fbioe.2020.00637550511The Logic of Interactive BioroboticsEdoardo DatteriIn recent studies, robots are used to stimulate living systems in controlled experimental settings. This research strategy is here called interactive biorobotics, to distinguish it from classical biorobotics, in which robots are used to simulate, rather than to stimulate, living system behavior. This article offers a methodological analysis of interactive biorobotics and has two goals. The first one is to argue that interactive biorobotics is methodologically different, in some important respects, from classical biorobotics and from countless instances of model-based science. It will be shown that interactive biorobotics does not conform to the so-called “understanding by building” approach or synthetic method, and that it illustrates a novel use of models in science. The second goal is to reflect on the logic of interactive biorobotics. A distinction will be made between two classes of studies, which will be called “proximal” and “distal.” In proximal studies, experiments involving robot-animal interaction are brought to bear on theoretical hypotheses on robot-animal interaction. In distal studies, experiments involving robot-animal interaction are brought to bear on theoretical hypotheses on animal-animal interaction. Distal studies involve logical steps which may be particularly hard to justify. This distinction, together with a methodological reflection on the relationship between the context in which the experiments are carried out and the context in which the conclusions are expected to hold, will lead to a checklist of questions which may be useful to justify and evaluate the validity of interactive biorobotics studies. The reconstruction of the logic of interactive biorobotics made here, though preliminary, may contribute to justifying the important role that robots, as tool for stimulating living systems, can play in the contemporary life sciences.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00637/fullinteractive roboticsbioroboticsethoroboticsrobot-animal interactionbiologically inspired robotics |
| spellingShingle | Edoardo Datteri The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology interactive robotics biorobotics ethorobotics robot-animal interaction biologically inspired robotics |
| title | The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics |
| title_full | The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics |
| title_fullStr | The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics |
| title_short | The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics |
| title_sort | logic of interactive biorobotics |
| topic | interactive robotics biorobotics ethorobotics robot-animal interaction biologically inspired robotics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00637/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT edoardodatteri thelogicofinteractivebiorobotics AT edoardodatteri logicofinteractivebiorobotics |