Synergetics of measurement, prediction and control (Q1355300)

The authors consider a system comprised of sensors, actuators and memory cells and investigate the synergy of these elements in the system so that it can operate as a modeler of natural laws. The main goal of their monograph is to establish a link between a quantitative physical description of natural phenomena, based on analytically expressed physical laws, and a less strict description, which is based on learning from examples. A statistical description of natural phenomena is used to develop an information processing system capable of modeling non-linear relationships among sensory data. The system, based on an optimal preservation of empirical information, applies these relationships for prediction and intelligent control. Some examples taken from physics, engineering, medicine and economics are given to demonstrate the applicability of such intelligent systems. This monograph is intended for students, scientists and engineers, who are interested in experimental work related to the adaptive modeling of natural laws, the development of sensory-neural networks, intelligent control, synergetics and informatics. No preliminary knowledge of advanced mathematics is presupposed. Chapter headings: (1) Introduction; (2) Quantitative description of nature; (3) Transducers; (4) Probability densities; (5) Information; (6) Maximum entropy principles; (7) Adaptive modeling of natural laws; (8) Self-organization and formal neurons; (9) Modeling of non-parametric regression; (10) Linear modeling and invariances; (11) Modeling and forecasting of chaotic processes; (12) Modeling by neural networks; (13) Fundamentals of intelligent control; (14) Self-control and biological evolution.