Review of Consciousness and the Possibility of Conscious Robots
Lyle N. Long, Troy Dale Kelley
Journal of Aerospace Computing Information and Communication December 21, 2009 DOI: 10.2514/1.46188 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 23 |
| Key points | Argues that a conscious machine or robot may fall within engineering reach if current technological developments, especially Moore's law, continue at their current pace. Proposes that a hybrid parallel architecture with significant input/output, combining symbolic and distributed representations that approximate the nonlinear dynamics of the human brain, offers the best solution for implementing a complex system of systems that functionally approximates a human mind. |
Abstract
This paper discusses the psychological, philosophical, and neurological definitions of con-sciousness and the prospects for the development of conscious machines or robots in the foreseeable future. Various definitions of consciousness are introduced and discussed within the different fields mentioned. A conscious machine or robot may be within the realm of engineering possibilities if current technological developments, especially Moore’s law, con-tinue at their current pace. Given the complexity of cognition and consciousness a hybrid parallel architecture with significant input/output appears to offer the best solution for the implementation of a complex system of systems which functionally approximates a human mind. Ideally, this architecture would include traditional symbolic representations as well as distributed representations which approximate the nonlinear dynamics seen in the human brain. I.