I think you're missing the point. I think it's to demonstrate that fully mechanical systems can learn and react like a real brain plus muscles and sensors.
The possible implication is, if consciousness can arise in a digital neural net, it can also arise in a mechanical system, you just need enough of levers and gears connected in a certain way.
The possible implication is, if consciousness can arise in a digital neural net, it can also arise in a mechanical system, you just need enough of levers and gears connected in a certain way.