A robot that learns to interact with the world in a similar way to a human baby could provide researchers with fresh insights into biological intelligence.
Created by roboticists from Italy, France and Switzerland, 鈥淏abybot鈥� automatically experiments with objects nearby and learns how best to make use of them. This gives the robot an ability to develop motor skills in the same way as a human infant.
The robot consists of a one-armed torso with a pair of cameras for eyes and a grasping hand. It has an in-built desire to physically experiment with objects on the table in front of it and an ability to assess different forms of interaction and learn from mistakes. If the robot fails to grasp an object securely, for example, it remembers and tries a differently strategy next time. One unbidden skill developed by Babybot was the ability to roll a bottle across its table.
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One (avi format) shows the robot experimenting with a rubber duck, while another shows Babybot examining a ball.
Cluster computing
鈥淲e started with knowledge from developmental psychologists and neuroscientists,鈥� explains Giorgio Metta at Genoa University in Italy, a member of the research team. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e doing is the same as what neuroscientists do but from an engineering perspective.鈥�
Babybot鈥檚 鈥渂rain鈥� is actually a cluster of 20 computers running several neural networks. This is software that mimics a biological neural system and learns in a similar way 鈥� by establishing and altering the strength of links between artificial neurons. By adjusting the neural network software and observing the robot鈥檚 learning behaviour, the roboticists can test different neuroscience models.
鈥淭he idea is fantastic,鈥� says Steve Grand, founder of UK robotics research company Cyberlife Research, who has also worked on simple learning robots. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the only way you can research the development of intelligence or artificial intelligence.鈥�
However, Grand believes fundamental differences between the human brain and computers used to control learning robots like Babybot may mean that such machines can never become as intelligent as us.
The one and only
鈥淏abybot is based on artificial neural networks, which are not in the slightest the same as biological ones,鈥� Grand says. 鈥淪ince we only have one example of intelligence in the universe, the brain, it might help to keep closer to biology. For all we know it might be the only way of doing it.鈥�
Plans to build the successor to Babybot are already underway, again with input from neuroscientists. The first functioning version of a robot toddler, dubbed 鈥楻obocub鈥�, should be completed in spring 2007.
鈥淭he goal is to build a humanoid 2-year-old child,鈥� explains Metta. This will have all of Babybot鈥檚 abilities and the researchers hope it may eventually even learn how to walk. 鈥淚t will definitely crawl,鈥� says Metta, 鈥渁nd is designed so that walking is mechanically possible.鈥�
Metta and colleagues hope that other researchers will use their Robocub designs. They also plan to make copies of Robocub available to other experts. 鈥淓verything about it will be open source, including the hardware, so anyone can use it in their own work,鈥� Metta says.
