Real and apparent biological inspiration in cognitive architectures

This paper examines the role and nature of biological inspiration in the new field of biologically inspired cognitive systems. The aim of producing human-like systems is shown to require the consideration of normative, conscious, and embodied systems. In addition to real direct biological inspiration, it is shown that there are interesting and potentially important ways in which indirect and apparent biological inspiration can be produced in a number of ways, and particularly by the effects of constraints common to biological and artificial systems. Some of these points are illustrated using a robot with a uniquely human embodiment.