The support-vector network is a new learning machine for two-group classification problems. The machine conceptually implements the following idea: input vectors are non-linearly mapped to a very high-dimension feature space. In this feature space a linear decision surface is constructed. Special properties of the decision surface ensures high generalization ability of the learning machine. The idea behind the supportvector network was previously implemented for the restricted case where the training data can be separated without errors. We here extend this result to non-separable training data.

A novel modular connectionist architecture is presented in which the networks composing the architecture compete to learn the training patterns. As a result of the competition, different networks learn different training patterns and, thus, learn to compute different functions. The architecture performs task decomposition in the sense that it learns to partition a task into two or more functionally independent vii tasks and allocates distinct networks to learn each task. In addition, the architecture tends to allocate to each task the network whose topology is most appropriate to that task, and tends to allocate the same network to similar tasks and distinct networks to dissimilar tasks. Furthermore, it can be easily modified so as to...

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Animation through the numerical simulation of physics-based graphics models offers unsurpassed realism, but it can be computationally demanding. Likewise, finding controllers that enable physics-based models to produce desired animations usually entails formidable computational cost. This paper demonstrates the possibility of replacing the numerical simulation and control of model dynamics with a dramatically more efficient alternative. In particular, we propose the NeuroAnimator, a novel approach to creating physically realistic animation that exploits neural networks. NeuroAnimators are automatically trained off-line to emulate physical dynamics through the observation of physics-based models in action. Depending on the model, its neural network emulator can yield physically realistic animation one or two orders of magnitude faster than conventional numerical simulation. Furthermore, by exploiting the network structure of the NeuroAnimator, we introduce a fast algorithm for learning controllers that enables either physics-based models or their neural network emulators to synthesize motions satisfying prescribed animation goals. We demonstrate NeuroAnimators for passive and active (actuated) rigid body, articulated, and deformable physics-based models.

We studied and compared two types of connectionist learning methods for model-free regression problems in this paper. One is the popular back-propagation learning (BPL) well known in the artificial neural networks literature; the other is the projection pursuit learning (PPL) emerged in recent years in the statistical estimation literature. Both the BPL and the PPL are based on projections of the data in directions determined from interconnection weights. However, unlike the use of fixed nonlinear activations (usually sigmoidal) for the hidden neurons in BPL, the PPL systematically approximates the unknown nonlinear activations. Moreover, the BPL estimates all the weights simultaneously at each iteration, while the PPL estimates the weights cyclically (neuron-by-neuron and layer-by-layer) at each iteration. Although the BPL and the PPL have comparable training speed when based on a Gauss-Newton optimization algorithm, the PPL proves more parsimonious in that the PPL requires a fewer hi...

Learning control involves modifying a controller's behavior to improve its performance as measured by some predefined index of performance (IP). If control actions that improve performance as measured by the IP are known, supervised learning methods, or methods for learning from examples, can be used to train the controller. But when such control actions are not known a priori, appropriate control behavior has to be inferred from observations of the IP. One can distinguish between two classes of methods for training controllers under such circumstances. Indirect methods involve constructing a model of the problem's IP and using the model to obtain training information for the controller. On the other hand, direct, or model-free,...

in this article we present symmetric diffusion networks, a family of networks that instantiate the principles of continuous, stochastic, adaptive and interactive pro-pagation of information. Using methods of Markovlon diffusion theory, we for-malize the activation dynamics of these networks and then show that they can be trained to reproduce entire muitivariote probability distributions an their outputs using the contrastive Hebbian learning rule (CHL).,We show that CHL performs gradient descent on an error function that captures differences between desired and obtolned continuous multivoriate probability distributions. This allows the learning algorithm to go beyond expected values of output units and to approxi-mate complete probability distributions on continuous muitivariote activation spaces. We argue that learning continuous distributions is an important task underlying a variety of real-life situations that were beyond the scope of previous connectionist networks. Deterministic networks, like back propagation, cannot ieorn this task because they ore limited to learning average values of indepen-dent output units. Previous stochastic connectionist networks could learn pro-bobility distributions but they were limited to discrete variables. Simulations show that symmetric diffusion networks can be trained with the CHL rule to op-proximate discrete and continuous probability distributions of various types. 1.

Neural networks are composed of basic units somewhat analogous to neurons. These units are linked to each other by connections whose strength is modifiable as a result of a learning process or algorithm. Each of these units integrates independently (in parallel) the information provided by its synapses in order to evaluate its state of activation. The unit response is then a linear or nonlinear function of its activation. Linear algebra concepts are used, in general, to analyze linear units, with eigenvectors and eigenvalues being the core concepts involved. This analysis makes clear the strong similarity between linear neural networks and the general linear model developed by statisticians. The linear models presented here are the perceptron, and the linear associator. The behavior of nonlinear networks can be described within the framework of optimization and approximation techniques with dynamical systems (e.g., like those used to model spin glasses). One of the main notio...

The recent surge in activity of Neural Network research in Business is not surprising since the underlying functions controlling business data are generally unknown and the neural network offers a tool that can approximate the unknown function to any degree of desired accuracy. The vast majority of these studies rely on a gradient algorithm, typically a variation of back propagation, to obtain the parameters (weights) of the model. The well-known limitations of gradient search techniques applied to complex nonlinear optimization problems such as artificial neural networks have often resulted in inconsistent and unpredictable performance. Many researchers have attempted to address the problems associated with the training algorithm by imposing constraints on the search space or by restructuring the architecture of the neural network. In this paper we demonstrate that such constraints and restructuring are unnecessary if a sufficiently complex initial architecture and an appropriate glob...

The size and complexity of software and hardware systems have significantly increased in the past years. As a result, it is harder to guarantee their correct behavior. One of the most successful methods for automated verification of finite-state systems is model checking. Most of the current model-checking systems use binary decision diagrams (BDDs) for the representation of the tested model and in the verification process of its properties.