Ecological Vision: Computational Agent Design

This lecture explores the concept of ecological vision, focusing on the relationship between visual perception and agent behavior in a computational context. Topics include classic vision theories, the Umwelt perspective, genotype-phenotype mapping for creature morphologies, and the sensory bubble of animals. The instructor delves into the design of morphologies using directed graphs, muscle-based locomotion, and the optimization of muscle attachment points. The lecture also covers the ecological approach to visual perception, referencing key figures like James J. Gibson and Jakob Johann von Uexküll. Through a series of slides, the audience is introduced to various models, feedback mechanisms, and control strategies for computational agents in visual intelligence.