The ghost in the machine 2.0: Psycho-bionic steps towards mastering complex environments

Summary form only given. Technical systems get into serious troubles, once confronted with a certain degree of complexity. An analytical, exhaustive description of a complex problem is often not possible, and so its solution. Far away from scalar control loops and PLC (programmable logic controller) based machinery control, future automation systems are supposed to process a tremendous amount of information coming from millions of sensors and complex information sources like cameras. Large numbers of inexpensive and diverse sources of information can increase the performance of automation tasks in buildings, factories, transport systems, or machinery. However, the complex and context-dependent semantics of such large amounts of data make bit-by-bit processing and traditional rule-based decisions impossible. A new trail from the sensor values to decisions is necessary. Let us take a journey into a new research approach, where bionic systems try to mimic the capabilities of conscious creatures. The human mind, as described in the latest findings of neurology and psychoanalysis, gives a blueprint of a system that is potentially capable of filtering, evaluating, and judging situations and scenarios. The relationship between system/environment interactions, memory, emotions, learning, and higher mental processes is believed to be the key for the success exhibited by our species. This talk will outline the possibilities, the state of the art and the expectations of applying new ideas in artificial intelligence, psychology and neurology in complex industrial automation environments and shall serve as inspiration and challenge to the INDIN community.