January 11, 2006
Human-Robot Interaction
I came across this interesting article on the evolution of robots towards more human or human expressive forms. This is becoming a big deal for NASA, where they believe that the future of any planetary exploration will be with human-robot teams.
Posted by elkaim at January 11, 2006 3:41 PMIn 1989, using an insect-like robot named Genghis, Rodney Brooks pitched a bold vision for exploring space: Send up an army of small, cheap machines to rove around on a distant planet and beam back data.
The concept kicked off a new era in robotics, and eight years later, NASA sent the simple probe Sojourner rolling across the surface of Mars.
But now Genghis sits in a box, and the sophisticated machines that populate Brooks's lab at MIT are becoming increasingly human-like: One has a sense of touch, another can find a familiar face in a crowd. Eventually a robotic torso named Domo -- now learning to wield a screwdriver -- will be able to master new skills by imitating people instead of undergoing software updates.
The new designs are part of a broader shift toward a vision of robots that are partners, not simply remote-controlled probes.
The change has been fueled by more powerful computers and better robotics as well as by new space policy. The Bush administration's push for more human space flight -- signed off on a few weeks ago by Congress -- is increasing the demand for robot partners that can learn new tasks, use tools the same way people do, and act as a space support staff.