Task 8 Artificial Neural Networks
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This is a template to structure your write-up for Task8. Text in italics are instructions and hints. You should
delete all italicised text from your write-up. You MUST use the section headings which are supplied.
Introduction to Neural Networks
This section will be short. Using your lecture notes and the class hand-out, discuss the features of biological
neurons and neural networks. You may include other material from your Googling here, but please cite your
sources.
Then give a summary how ANNs work. You should include the following
(i) How a single neuron calculates a weighted sum of its inputs
(ii) How a single neuron computes its output using the activation function
(iii) How Supervised Learning works.
(iv) The concept of back-propagation of errors and how to adjust the weights to obtain learning
Please do not copy my diagrams or figures, but you must create or discover your own.
Finally write a short paragraph about Braitenberg Vehicles. Follow the link on the “Lectures and
Workshops” page for a digitisation of a chapter of his book.
Investigation of the ANN Model
This section will normally be quite long. Here you should incorporate results from the associated worksheet.
You should do the following.
(1) Mandatory. Using the level CBP25_ANN_Lab1, you must investigate changing the number of learning
cycles on the final “rms” error. Refer to the worksheet and to the associated notes.
(2) Your Choice. You must choose to investigate one or more of the following:
(2.1) Investigation of a vehicle moving to kill a single prey. (Braitenberg 2b) CBP25_ANN_Lab4
For example, you could investigate how the time taken to kill the prey depends on the number
of learning cycles used to train the vehicle.
(2.2) Investigation of a vehicle moving in a place where there are many prey (Braitenberg 2b). Base
this on the level CBP25_ANN_Lab4 where you should insert additional prey.
Here you could place your prey in an arranged order in space, such as a line or a 2D grid.
You could observe and record the order of the prey visited and killed. Some examples will be
discussed in class.
(2.3) Investigation of a vehicle moving to avoid a target (Braitenberg 2a), see 2.1 for hints
(2.4) Investigation of a vehicle moving to avoid many targets (Braitenberg 2a), see 2.1 for hints
Please note that I have not conducted these investigations. In fact I am really interested in seeing your
results.
Optional Extension Work. While you may obtain all available grades up to A+ by completing the above
work, you can achieve a commendation of “excellence” if you choose to do this extension investigation.
For the case where a vehicle is moving to kill a number of prey, use the vehicle log file to import its x and y
coordinates into Excel and so make a plot of the trajectory of the vehicle as it moves through and kills the
prey.
Planning the Investigation
Summarise your investigation plans based on the mandatory and on your choice. Remember you should
decide on how many simulation runs you make.
Investigation Results
Summarise the results of your investigations. This could include graphs and/or written notes of your
observations, screen-shots or short movies (obtained using FRAPS).
Conclusions
Here you should formulate some conclusions from your study.