This intelligent robot has learned how to clean a sink by imitating humans. — TU Wien
Researchers at the Technical University of Vienna, Austria, have succeeded in developing a learning robot that can assimilate new behaviour simply by observing humans performing a task. For example, it has now learned to clean a sink with a sponge, just as any human would.
In a video posted online, this robot, which is in fact a simple articulated arm, handles a sponge and cleans a sink in a very natural way. The idea is to be able to entrust this type of robot with tedious tasks, such as cleaning a bathroom. In this case, the robot has "learned” to clean the sink by observing human gestures. This expertise acquired for a washbasin can then be applied to other, similar forms, such as a bathtub.
The entire system is based on a learning-by-imitation process. First, a sensor-equipped sponge is used by a human to clean a washbasin. The data collected, relating to forces exerted, trajectories and points of contact, are then transmitted to the robot. Thanks to sophisticated learning algorithms, the robot is able to analyze this data and extract the information needed to perform the task.
The results are promising, as the video shows, with the robot making fluid, confident gestures. Ultimately, the idea is to teach it other simple gestures for cleaning, sanding and polishing, each time giving it the tool it needs to perform the task properly. One day, the robots could also share their knowledge with each other.
This research were recently presented at IROS 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, an international conference on intelligent robotics.
In robotics, machine learning is now the lifeblood of the industry. Physical Intelligence recently presented a robot capable of clearing a table and even folding laundry, in collaboration with OpenAI. Similarly, one of Figure's robots can identify and stack dishes on a drainer, and robots from Norway's 1X Technologies are now capable of chaining several tasks together to perform them in succession by responding to instructions given orally by humans. – AFP Relaxnews
