Chasing prey: a simple example of integrating visual perception and action

Chasing prey involves visual perception of the prey and running after the prey until it is caught. Visual perception involves two components, recognizing the prey and getting the direction to the prey. In this model, I shall take the recognition for granted and I shall focus on getting the direction in which to run to catch the prey.

In the next example, based on the same predator - prey scenario, I assume that the predator can predict how far the prey can run before the predator can catch up.

• Looking from above, we can compare the chase scenarios.
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• speeds and distances are the same for the reactive and the predictive model.
• prediction allows the predator to run along a shorter path, and thus catch the prey earlier.

Prediction can be limited, say for 2 or 3 of the time periods. The predator predicts where the prey will be in 10 seconds. In process control this is called feedforward or predictive control.