How accurate need sensory coding be for behaviour? Experiments using a mobile robot

This paper argues that for those neuronal systems which control behaviour, reliable responses are more appropriate than precise responses. We illustra te this argument using a mobile robot controlled by the responses of a neur onal model of the locust LGMD system, a visual system which responds to loo ming objects. Our experiments show that although the responses of the model LGMD Vary widely as the robot approaches obstacles, they still trigger avo idance responses. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.