In domains where some reasonable degree of prediction is possible, a system’s adaptation to its environment can usually be improved by combining predictive control with homeostatic and feedback methods. It is well known in control theory, however, that active, feedforward control, using predictions, can throw a system into undamped oscillation unless the control responses are carefully designed to maintain stability. Because of the possible destabilizing effects of taking inaccurate predictive data too seriously, it is sometimes advantageous to omit prediction entirely, relying wholly on
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