There is renewed interest in analog computing* because of the reduced power demand. I have a few B.E.A.M. robots** but digital processors allow for much faster modification of behaviors (via software changes). A hybrid system is possible, however, using analog circuits in various of A.s.a.'s pre and post processors for example.
* See my blog of 20 January 2012.
** See my blog of 18 February 2016.
I have thought for a long time that a robot model with BEAM-style 'reflexes' and processor-directed actions would be a fantastic hybrid. Things like balance and gait could be mostly taken care of by the BEAM modules, and even output from vision processors could inform the BEAM modules as they do things like determine how high to lift a leg in stride. Watching people learn or re-learn how to walk shows how terrible a full-conscious-attention gait is. Agility comes when the autonomic nervous system learns what it needs to do and the brain can focus on higher goals.
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