Biomimicry for Optimization, Control and Automation

Part I: Introduction.- Challenges in Computer Control and Automation.- Scientific Foundations for Biomimicry.- For Further Study.- Part II: Elements of Decision Making.- Neural Network Substrates for Control Instincts.- Rule-Based Control.- Planning Systems.- Attentional Systems.- For Further Study.- Part III: Learning.-Learning and Control.- Linear Least Squares Methods.- Gradient Methods.- Adaptive Control.- For Further Study.- Part IV: Evolution.- The Genetic Algorithm.- Stochastic and Non-Gradient Optimization for Design.- Evolution and Learning: Synergistic Effects.- For Further Study.- Part V: Foraging.- Cooperative Foraging and Search.- Competitive and Intelligent Foraging.- For Further Study.

From the reviews:

The book is well-written and succeeds in its stated goal of providing a rich overview on the subject of biologically inspired "intelligent Control" for both students and researchers in the controls community. Although the book is aimed at readers with graduate degrees, it can also be used by undergraduate students who are sufficiently advanced in their understanding of control theory.

The text is amply illustrated with charts and graphs, as well as important mathematical equations, although this book makes a point of not going too deeply into the mathematics... The margins of the text are usefully annotated with statements that seek to summarize key points that the author wishes to bring to the reader's attention.

The author also maintains a companion website that is continually updated and provides the reader with further examples and design problems, solution hints, lecture slides, and Matlab codes to help solve a number of key problems... the book is amply supported by an extensive reference list with 560 entries that serve as a "gateway" to publications on both the subjects covered in the book and those that have been omitted.

At 926 pages, this book serves as a hefty but useful introduction and overview to a fascinating and growing field of engineering. It succeeds in its stated goal of providing the reader with a modern overview of biomimicry.

IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control 51 (2006) 1406 - 1407 (Reviewer: Jonathan K. Chow)

"The recent book ... is a welcome addition to the field of intelligent control, providing a good treatment on how to use our understanding of biological systems for the development of optimization algorithms and feedback control systems. ... The book is quite readable, and it challenges the readers to explore further ideas and issues in the field. In this sense, the main objectives of the author have been successfully achieved. ... the book will find its appropriate place in university lecture rooms and libraries." (Clarence W. De Silva, SIAM Reviews, Vol. 47 (4), 2005)