Aug 7 2008We're All Gonna Die! (Just Kidding, Nothing To Worry About): Robots Learn How To Move
Despite their better judgment and several threatening letters from yours truly, researchers in Leipzig, Germany are writing software that allows robots to teach themselves how to move. This is great news.
The software mimics the interconnected sensing and processing of a brain in a so-called "neural network". Armed with such a network, the simulated creatures start to explore.The network then sends out signals to move in a particular way, and predicts where it should end up, based on that movement. If it encounters an obstacle such as itself, a wall or the floor, the prediction is wrong, and the robot tries different moves, learning about itself and its environment as it does so.
This approach is far more flexible than traditional programming, in which movements are painstakingly planned out in a well-defined space. As conditions change, so can the robot's behavior.
Uh-huh. Now I'm not saying there's nothing to worry about here, but seriously folks, these robots could never figure out how to wield a knife or gun. And I'm not just saying that because I want plenty of robot-fodder standing around while I make my escape to the moon. Wait, yes I am. Gotta look out for #1.
Hit the jump for a video simulation of a dog learning to jump a fence and humanoid dancing.
Robots learn to move themselves [bbcnews]
Thanks to LaVada, Brian, and Jacob for preying on my fear of the robotic apocalypse.
Reader Comments
1. KennyRogers - August 7, 2008 8:59 AM
my face looks like a robot.
2. ultradev - August 7, 2008 9:10 AM
I don't think there's anything to worry about ... they've clearly programmed them to be retarded
3. Carlos - August 7, 2008 9:35 AM
Carlos says Dee Da Deeeeeeeeee!
4. Anony Cow - August 7, 2008 9:40 AM
I for one welcome our breakdancing robot overlords, and their retarded robodogs.
5. SmokingGirl - August 7, 2008 9:42 AM
Ugh...robots.
6. MeeMee - August 7, 2008 9:55 AM
WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!
True statement, as it turns out. Have a great day.
7. guate6 - August 7, 2008 10:09 AM
I see.
Um, so the program has a few bugs in it (read: all of them). But I did enjoy the music selection they added to the video...it gave it the extra oomph it needed to keep it from being the very definition of 'retarded' or 'retardation'
In any case, it does sound pretty bad: robots to use how to climb walls, keep balance & carry heavy payload, talk, have feelings, weapon-wielding, neural networks, and let's not forget: Skynet launched its final satelite...yep...no robot apocalypse coming this way...not at all.
8. whos the pat - August 7, 2008 11:33 AM
@KennyRogers- im extremely disappointed in you. the geekogolie writer says "Gotta look out for #1" and you show up with nothing?
9. McTOM - August 7, 2008 11:36 AM
ridiculous. this humanoid simulation doesn't seem to be realistic at all.
and i've already seen way better algorithms. like that 8-legged robot that learned how to walk in case it lost some legs.
10. Leon - August 7, 2008 12:30 PM
if those were real instead of sim i'll lmfao
11. KennyRogers - August 7, 2008 12:51 PM
at least i didn't say "FIRRSTTT".
sorry though, my game was off partially because my toothless black maid was tickling my balls with her uvla.
12. whos the pat - August 7, 2008 1:09 PM
that's true, at least you didnt say first. and the toothless black maid excuse is the most reasonable, acceptable, understandable, valid, justifiable, rational, feasible, convincing, and plausible excuse i have ever heard. ever.
13. OlNoKnees - August 7, 2008 2:57 PM
By the time any of those robots would have actually learned to walk, they would have destroyed themselves completely.
14. chosetec - August 7, 2008 3:15 PM
seems like they're all still in the early stages of "FAIL", They probably need to let the simulation run a lot longer ftw.
strangely cute though.
15. Cyberwulf - August 7, 2008 3:30 PM
Ok, I've run an electromagnetic current through the bars on my windows, now my only worry is that my computer might somehow be aff-
16. guate6 - August 7, 2008 5:44 PM
#12: her what??
The only two words I can think of that could both fit are "vulva" and "uvula"
17. mavis - August 8, 2008 1:30 AM
the humanoid form reminds me of eddy gordo in the hands of a masher.