´Instinctive´ cellular robots

Describes an approach to the design of cellular mobile units featured by ´instinctive´ behavior and forming collectively a ´society´ of robots. Each robotic unit has its own ´personality´ and ´lives´ independently from the others. The behavior of each unit derives from a ´subsumption-like´ control structure, which emphasizes the roles of ´innate personality´, external stimuli, and communication. An example of implementation of instinctive behavior in a real robotic vehicle is presented, and a possible application of the proposed approach to the practical case of a robot system for collecting objects is illustrated.<>