A module has various parts:
1. A set of description types, i.e. what kinds
of expressions can the module input and store
2. A set of rules
3. A set of output connections, which specify
what other modules and what kinds of description
are sent to them each model cycle. This includes
specifying which descriptions are stored in the
module itself.
4. A specification of the output method,
whether descriptions matching the output specification
will compete for channel capacity, and giving parameters
for this such as thresholds and channel capacity.
Example:
The person_action module:
1. Description types include
position(M,X,Y,Z),
plan_person_request(M1),
requested_position(M1,X1,Y1,Z1),
requested_action(M1,A1),
self_position(M,X,Y,Z),
self_orientation(M,O)
etc.
2. The set of rules as given in the example
rule set.
3. Output connections, all spatial relations
are sent to the plan_person_action module
and the person_disposition module.
A subset of these relations is also sent
to the affiliations module.
The relation of another's head oriented
toward the subject animal is computed and
also stored in the module itself.
4. The output is not competitive on any of the channels.
back to systems page
back to cs286 page
back to teaching page
back to home page