Servo-Mechanisms
Servo-mechanisms reveal a profound truth about how intelligent systems navigate toward goals. These mechanisms are divided into two types: those seeking known targets and those discovering unknown ones.
Consider the self-guided torpedo—it doesn't travel in perfect straight lines; instead, it zigzags toward its target through a continuous process of error and correction. The torpedo moves forward, receives negative feedback when it veers off course, adjusts, and continues. What's fascinating is that it only responds to errors—when it's on the right path, it simply maintains course. "The torpedo accomplishes its goal by going forward, making errors, and continually correcting them," notes the observer of these systems.
These servo-mechanisms must have sense organs (radar, sonar) to detect their position, propulsion to move forward, and corrective devices that respond specifically to negative feedback.
Our brains operate on similar principles—we navigate life through persistent forward motion paired with responsive course correction, using both target-seeking and target-discovering approaches depending on our circumstances.