Robot, heal thyself - welcome to the future

[Shaetano]

Taken from NEWS.com.au

SCIENTISTS say they have created a brainy, four-legged robot resembling a starfish that can sense damage to its body and, on its own, think up a way to recover.

Researchers Hod Lipson and Victor Zykov of Cornell University and Josh Bongard of the University of Vermont made a robot that observed its own motion using built-in sensors in its joints and then generated its own concept of itself, or at least its physical structure, in its internal computer.

It used this internal model of itself to figure out how to walk on its four legs and eight motorised joints.

"In the beginning, the robot starts off and does not know what it looks like," Mr Lipson said today.

"You look at it, and you see that it's a four-legged machine. But the robot itself doesn't know that. All it knows is that it could be a snake, it could be a tree, it could have six legs."

Mr Lipson said the robot used various movements of its joints, first to generate hypotheses and then to formulate an accurate conception of itself.

The researchers then tested the robot's ability to adapt to new situations - in this case injury - by shortening one of its legs. "The robot knows something's wrong," Mr Lipson said.

Animals can compensate for injury by changing movements, like limping to favour an injured leg. Machines can be programmed to react to a problem in a certain way. But when they are damaged in unexpected ways, they usually are doomed.

This plucky robot responded by generating on its own a new concept of its structure, accurately sensing it had been altered, and then devising a new way to walk using a different gait to compensate for the injury

The robot's smarts, awareness of itself and ability to adapt on its own separates it from its mechanical brethren.

"We don't really think this is self-consciousness, which is a robot thinking about itself thinking," Mr Lipson said. "But I do think it is moving in the direction of consciousness, like a cat, that kind of level."

Aside from contributing to a philosophical debate, the research has practical implications - giving hope to people who envision sending robots that can adapt to unforeseen circumstances to explore other worlds or the ocean floor.

"There is a need for planetary robotic rovers to be able to fix things on their own," Mr Bongard said.

"Robots on other planets must be able to continue their mission without human intervention in the event they are damaged and cannot communicate their problem back to Earth."

Pretty cool stuff, lots of possibilites esp in planetary exploration where the unknown can happen (ala Mars Rover). The ocean example is also neat, I've always been equally fascinated on whats below us as much as above us.

Reminds me of a Dr Who episode where they find a ship which has constructed robots to fix itself at any cost....and they used the human crew as parts . So watch out in future

[Kippa-Dee]

But in pure psychological terms, this is very quickly moving into a realm of pseudo-consciousness.

What really makes us human but the idea of a self-awareness, internal self image, and the way this interacts with the environment?

It won't be long untill these machines envision ways of which they should behave and act, and then compare these with the ways they act in simple tasks, which when coupled with an ability to communicate and comprehend, will result in a very scary manifestation of a child's conscious... I for one don't feel its long untill this programming can be extended into more abstract concepts to encapsulate a basic form of consciousness.... The futures coming.

[syahrr01]

I wouldn't equate compensating for a loss in the number of degrees-of-freedom as 'healing'. I think the interesting part of this research is generating propagation hypothesis from the observed sensors and actuators feedback.

As far as the issue of conciousness and artificial intelligence are concerned - I don't see anything new being offered here. It would make a nice toy nonetheless.

[TERRA Operative]

So when will I get my robot maid?

[OCMunkee]

I remember seeing this a number of months ago. This is the one that consists of a bunch of link-like things that can connect in various ways, and it can adapt, right?
It's pretty awesome, because it actually -CAN- change form depending on what it 'decides' is the logical next move. Pretty crazy stuff.

--
Nathan

[filthmunger]

Bloody hell. I wonder how long until a corporation called " CyberDyne" pops up and creates the bloody T-1000. Thats pretty cool but slightly disturbing in a sense.

Technology will be the end of civilisation. But hey , not for our generation. Win.

[Dezza Bot]

I think you'll find they'll start with the t-1, that was in terminator3
But I think there's something wrong with the world when you have a robot that can make decisions on its own, and then diceide to weld two miniguns to its arms

[taztassio]

Originally Posted by filthmunger

Technology will be the end of civilisation. But hey , not for our generation. Win.

LOL, best remark ever!