Vehicles
by Valentino Braitenberg · first published 1986
67% recommend33% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short thought experiments showing how very simple reflex rules can produce complex-looking behaviour; recommended as a playful, accessible read for anyone curious about emergence, robotics, or artificial life.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2010–2019Wars, Guns, and Votes
Paul Collier
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2009–2016Risk
Dan Gardner
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2010–2025Demian
Hermann Hesse
Recommended by 11 · mentioned by 1611 recommend · 16 mention11 recommend · 1611 recommend
2008–2026Tunnel in the sky
Robert A. Heinlein
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 167 recommend · 16 mention7 recommend · 167 recommend
2011–2026Vehicles, experiments in synthetic psychology
Valentino Braitenberg
Recommended by 10 · mentioned by 1210 recommend · 12 mention10 recommend · 1210 recommend
2010–2026Ficciones
Jorge Luis Borges
Recommended by 26 · mentioned by 3926 recommend · 39 mention26 recommend · 3926 recommend
2009–2026The Tao of Pooh
Benjamin Hoff, Ernest H. Shepard, A. A. Milne
Recommended by 28 · mentioned by 4128 recommend · 41 mention28 recommend · 4128 recommend
2009–2026Quarantine
Greg Egan
Recommended by 19 · mentioned by 2619 recommend · 26 mention19 recommend · 2619 recommend
…http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Consciousness-Breakdown-Bicamer... I found it on this list: http://spacecollective.org/wilfriedhoujebek/4076/Summery-Boo... Where also the following books some of which I read to (Vehicles is really good) can be found: The White Goddess - Robert Graves Graves' grammar of poetic myth works at so many levels at the same time that I can't keep track of them all. This is not a book, this…
on “Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read?” ↗You might enjoy the book "Vehicles" by Valentio Braitenberg
on “Minecraft to run artificial intelligence experiments” ↗…Wars in the same way again. - David Deutch: "The Fabric of Reality" Many worlds or mad as a box of frogs? - Richard Leakey & Roger Lewin: "The Sixth Extinction" We're doomed - maybe - Braitenberg: "Vehicles" Emergent behaviour from simple rules - Ian Wilmut, Keith Cambell & Colin Tudge: "The Second Creation" How Dolly the Sheep was made. Takes you through the background such that you can read & understand…
on “Ask HN: Interesting (Non software) books?” ↗…tanks connected to the central computer - or so we think, there is no way to ever be sure... I think you should have followed through with your "pain variable" approach. A good read is "Braitenberg Vehicles", it shows how even very simple rules can evoke complex behaviour and the appearance of emotions.
on “Ask HN: Where does consciousness come from?” ↗Yes, we're all fakes to that extent. People who are unconvinced should read Braitenberg's Vehicles (1984).
on “Algorithm can create new Van Gogh or Picasso in an hour” ↗I would also suggest anyone that is interested in BEAM robotics to take a look at Braitenberg Vehicles[1]. These are simple reflex-based robots that can exhibit complex behaviors due to their interaction with their environment. Originally, they were thought experiments by the psychologist Valentino Braitenberg…
on “How insects like bumblebees do so much with tiny brains” ↗A useful search term the article didn't mention: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsumption_architecture Before you get into that, it's delightful to start with the Braitenberg "Vehicles" book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braitenberg_vehicle
on “Rodney Brooks” ↗…three layer architecture paper - its a classic in terms of summarizing previous approaches and it also that provided a foundation for a lot what now drives today's research. re: NeilV - Braitenberg "Vehicles" book - enough goodness cannot be said about that book. It seems deceptively simple but its a wonderful place to start thinking about and being inspired to building simple beasties. As should Grey walter's…
on “Rodney Brooks” ↗…"bigger" than this, so keep in mind this is a 1 mile wide, 1 inch deep description only. If you really want to grok ALife in its purest form, I recommend reading Valentino Braitenberg's thought experiment "Vehicles."
on “Two rival theories of consciousness are put to the test” ↗For explorations of simple mechanisms like this leading to complex behaviour, Valentino Braitenberg’s book Vehicles is a classic.
on “A True Life Hack: What Physical 'Life Force' Turns Biology's Wheels?” ↗Valentino Braitenberg: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braitenberg_vehicle https://www.amazon.com/Vehicles-Experiments-Psychology-Valen...
on “As We May Think (1945)” ↗Vehicles by Valentino Braitenberg -- a study of theoretical robots whose behavior is interpreted as more and more biologically plausible.
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗Probably best not to circumscribe 'intelligence' even if the ant example is as you suggest. What is planning, forethought or central driving? Braitenberg nailed this back in 1986 in his book Vehicles in which he describes simple toys showing 'increasing intricate if not always successful or civilized behaviour'. See chapters (vehicles) on 'Foresight', 'Egotism' and 'Optimism'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braitenberg_vehicle
on “Army ants’ ‘living’ bridges suggest collective intelligence” ↗The paragraphs beginning where they discuss Hydras is pretty much precisely what Valentino Braitenberg was getting at with his thought experiment Vehicles. https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/vehicles I've been studying this area since the 80's, so for me it is particularly exciting to see the concepts show up in less theoretical formats.
on “The Octopus: An Alien Among Us” ↗This article is a fun read if you are a robot enthusiast. Anyone who has built a line-following robot knows this problem instinctively. Valentino Braitenberg talked about emergent properties in his Vehicles, and this is one he would have totally delighted in. Of course he would add more sensors to make things even less predictable.
on “My Robot Vacuum Cleaner Is Afraid of Sunshine” ↗