Book + demonstration programs by William T. Powers (2008)
Living Control Systems III continues Powers’ revolutionary approach to understanding living organisms as purposeful agents whose actions serve to control their environments. A unique feature of the book is the accompanying computer programs where Powers `puts his models where his mouth is,’ graphically demonstrating how negative feedback control systems can account for a wide range of goal-oriented behavior. This book is required reading (and computing) for anyone seeking a deep understanding of the behavior of living organisms.
Gary Cziko, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois
Contents
- Modeling and Simulation Demonstration CD —Notation ii
- Foreword: The Fact of Control xi
- 1 Concepts of Control 1
- 2 Human Control Systems Demonstration: Choose Control 19
- 3 A Feel for Control Demonstration: Live Block 41
- 4 Tracking Demonstration: Track Analyze 69
- 5 Nonadaptive Adaptive Control Demonstration: Nonadaptive 83
- 6 Multidimensional Control Demonstration: Live Three 97
- 7 E. Coli (Random Walk) Reorganization Demonstrations: E.Coli, Three Systems 107
- 8 Multiple Control Systems at Multiple Levels Demonstrations: Arm Control Reorganization, Coordination, Arm Tracking 127
- 9 Demonstrations of Principles Square-Circle, Crowd (four versions), Inverted Pendulum 145
- 10 The Purposive Self-Motivated System 167
- 11 Epilogue: What Good Is It? 171
- 12 Appendix 175
- 13 Index 194
- Modeling and Simulation Demonstration CD ii
Download program files:
- Instructions (PDF) for download & installing
- Demo ZIP file containing programs
- Instructions (PDF) for running and understanding the demonstrations