RunBot Puts Toddlers To Shame
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Friday, 17 of August , 2007 at 8:37 am
By Evan Ackerman
Walking, as robots like Honda’s ASIMO have discovered, is tougher than it looks. Rather than rely on pre-programmed sequences of movements with constantly adapting feedback, RunBot relies on a much more organic approach. First of all, RunBot is able to teach itself how to walk, and it learns from its mistakes at a rate that makes us wonder what we spent all that time crawling around for:
RunBot also functions biologically in that animals (like humans) don’t really think about walking. We decide to walk somewhere, and our legs (or subconscious brains, if you prefer) take care of the details to keep us from falling over. Our brains only have to kick in if something interesting happens, like the changes. RunBot works exactly the same way, with local circuits dealing with normal walking, and the “brain” only stepping in when changes are necessary (such as a change in slope, in the above video). Robots may be 100% inorganic, but modeling their behavior after us living breathing sacks of meat seems to be the best way to help them get themselves off the ground.
[ RunBot ] VIA [ New Scientist ]
Comments (4)
Category: Research
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Comment by Steve Parker
Made Saturday, 18 of August , 2007 at 7:03 pm
Can it tell the difference between “it’s” (an abbreviation of “it is”), and “its” (pertaining to “it”)?
“learns from it’s mistakes” …
“learns from its mistakes”
Feel free to delete this grammar-nazi comment :-) But please remove the apostrope
Comment by Evan Ackerman
Made Saturday, 18 of August , 2007 at 7:12 pm
Removed. I beg your forgiveness, but sometimes its just so tough to keep them straight, you know? Besides, English is my second language (my first being Bad English).
Comment by Brodie Lewis
Made Thursday, 13 of September , 2007 at 2:55 am
was the a Fifth Element reference Evan? if so, you are awesome. :D
Comment by quantum_flux
Made Monday, 11 of October , 2010 at 3:39 am
Very interesting, I get that, the slope changes and so the robot adapts by shifting the weight more forward or backwards each time it tops over.
