Using evolutionary algorithms to develop neuromechanical simulations of lower vertebrate locomotion

Reading Assignment: http://rana.usc.edu:8376/~ijspeert/PAPERS/BC.pdf

Supplementary reading may be found at: http://rana.usc.edu:8376/~ijspeert/publications.html

Three questions: (pick one and answer it in a one-page essay that
you will hand in to Prof. Itti the monday following the talk, at noon
in class):

1) Is animal locomotion a good source of inspiration for designing the
structures and the controllers of mobile robots? Discuss the pros
and cons.

2) Choose one type of animal-like locomotion, and discuss which problems
need to be solved for constructing and controlling an agile biomimetic
robot using that type of locomotion.

3) Briefly explain the principle of the genetic algorithm, and discuss to
which type of problem it _is/is not_ well suited. (if possible, try to
compare it with other optimization algorithms).