Researchers create virtual bots that teach each other

New Scientist reports that researchers at Plymouth University in the U.K. have created a pair of virtual robots that can teach each other words by simply demonstrating various tasks and actions (sound familiar?). The bots start out with one performing simple functions like bending an elbow which the other one copies, then repeating the action while also describing it, causing the student bot to pick up the meaning of the words. The teacher then uses the newly formed vocabulary to gradually convey more and more complex actions, which the student acts out. If you're worried about the little buggers getting a little too smart, you'll be pleased to know that they currently top out at a vocabulary of about 100 words and are, of course, virtual. However, the researchers do eventually see the technology being put to use in real robots in the future, possibly even teaching us humans a few tricks.

[Alex @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:03AM]

I for one welcome our virtual bot overlords...

[Rohit Kapur @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:06AM]

Okay. I KNOW some idiot or the other is gonna say this, so let me just get it out of the way...

Sigh...

I, for one, welcome our virtual robotic overlords.

There. Now PLEASE leave it be.

[Rohit Kapur @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:08AM]

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh

[John @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:10AM]

Too little too late Rohit =P

Anyways... this is really starting to concern me... Haven't people learned anything from the movies?

[grindboy @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:13AM]

AHHHHH I live in Plymouth, their gonna get me first!!!

[PodMonkeys @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:45AM]

I'd like to see how this learning thing would work in gaming. I'd like to see how an RPG would go with NPCs that could learn. FPS's too. Heck! Any genre!

Oh yeah. When do we start teaching them to sing "Bicycle Built for Two"?

[Mark @ Aug 3rd 2006 8:07AM]

cool, i remember the early stages of this project, Angelo was my lecturer for the AI module of my course, nice to see it got somewhere

[Unomi @ Aug 3rd 2006 8:27AM]

If you combine this with the Sony Quro Dancing robots, teaching each other new steps, you've a mechanic dancing school in no time.... ;-)

- Unomi -

[listposter @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:44PM]

if they're virtual, why would their vocab be limited?

[tristanfey @ Aug 3rd 2006 7:16PM]

I would assume it is limited by the vocabulary of the teacher, which it seems at this time has only been given a vocabulary of 100 words. More than likely to keep it in a small range for study, to make easier to find mistakes and correct coding. Once thay feel it is working flawlessly (or as close as anything gets), I am sure they will begin adding more words, which in turn will probably have to be debugged. I am sure you get the picture.

[G Scott J @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:00PM]

Well, actually, the way that many robots "learn" is through a "connectivist network." By changing the weights between different nodes of a network, the network is able to take any input and give an appropriate output. But the network's memory abilities is limited by the number of nodes it has, and more nodes means it's more difficult to set up.

[HOLY SHIT, NOONE IS SCARED???? @ Aug 4th 2006 3:02AM]

THIS IS THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL LEAD TO ROBOTS TAKING OVER THE PLANET AND DECIDING TO GET RID OF THE HUMANS.

[m @ Aug 6th 2008 5:15PM]

hello.
please you gide me for get software that create virtual or simulation of programs to computer and create quiz for them.
thank you.
i am train .