UMass Mobile Manipulator pushes things around, learns ways of the world

Robots teaching robots? Check. Robots teaching humans? Check. Robots learning things on their own accord? Um, terrifying? All kidding aside, the UMass Mobile Manipulator is one smart cookie. Put simply, this intelligent robot pushes objects around in order to identify how they move, and once that's accomplish, it begins "manipulating them to perform tasks." If this sounds awfully similar to something your infant does, that's because the two are indeed very much related. UMan, as it's so eloquently dubbed, packs its own wheels, battery pack, one-meter arm, three-fingered hand and webcam in order to interact with the world, and sure enough, one researcher even mentioned the potential of it learning to operate a pair of scissors. Great, what's next -- a BFG?

[Via CrunchGear]

[Jerry Paxton @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:37PM]

Reminds me of Tony Stark's bot buddies in the Ironman film.

[SFO Kevin @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:37PM]

EXT... EXTE... EXTER... EXTERMINATE...

[JAmerican @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:37PM]

I am at UMass Amherst right now. I didn't even know about it lol. I had to go to the linked site to know that it was from the University and not just called UMass by coincidence.

[Jonny @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:35PM]

Yeah man, this thing isn't really new. Well I saw a video of it doing it's thing in a basic comp sci intro class at Umass last September.

[Wolfey @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:39PM]

Anyone else get an Iron Man déjà vu when you see this?

[yode @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:40PM]

Well everyone knows that rule number 1 clearly states that robots cannot harm human beings

[Danakin @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:50PM]

HAHAHA, indeed

[Frun @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:44PM]

Is the bottom made out of a used liquor barrel?

[eugene @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:49PM]

looks like one of the robots from Tony Stark's lab

[Scott @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:52PM]

It's like the next generation of the BumBot! :P

http://gizmodo.com/383911/bumbot-robocop-that-fights-the-homeless

[DeusExMach @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:01PM]

Well, I, for one, welcome our ambidextrous robot overl-
*KTHWACK!*

Ah! The hell'd you hit me for?!

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:03PM]

Pawn to E7... Not everything can be solved with chess deep blue. Some day you will realize that.

[Ari @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:04PM]

Glad to see my alma mater is good for something other than Red Sox and Pats riots.

"Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem"

[initialxy @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:08PM]

yes, but can it figure out how to handle my..... aawwwww never mind...

[kal326 @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:28PM]

"If this sounds awfully similar to something your infant does, that's because the two are indeed very much related." And much like your infant you should keep this thing away from sharp objects, electrical outlets, and any devices with connections to thermonuclear weapons.

[Melvyn @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:43PM]

Am I the only other person that thinks it resembles a Dalek.....

[Tyler Crumpton @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:47PM]

It's probably what an infant Dalek looks and acts like... Trying to raise that thing to become a killing machine would require some patience, don't you agree?

[Decoy @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:45PM]

But willl it learn to love?

[whatishalo? @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:46PM]

Hopefully it is smart enough not to reach down and push it's own emergency shuf off button (you can see the red button below the arm)

[TheHeroesMusic @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:01PM]

*insert another Iron Man reference here*

[zlck @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:15PM]

Looks like it's ready to make some boob-interaction.

[BeniRose @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:34PM]

This is the kind of research we need to be doing with robots. Too many people trying to master advanced things without actually having the robots learn the ways we do. We weren't able to walk out of the womb, so neither should a robot (hypothetically speaking)

[hank94jp @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:13PM]

Anybody else frightened at the idea of a robot trying to learn how to use scissors? Or, even scarier, what to use scissors for?

[gad get @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:12PM]

"Robots teaching robots? Check. Robots teaching humans? Check. Robots learning things on their own accord? Um, terrifying? All kidding aside, the UMass Mobile Manipulator is one smart cookie."

This is how I read it, no joke:
"Robots teaching robots? Check. Robots teaching humans? Check. Robots learning things on their own accord? Um, terrifying? All killing aside, the UMass Mobile Manipulator is one smart cookie."

[gad get @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:15PM]

"manipulating them to perform tasks."

Huh. Sounds like someone I know.
...But I'm not bitter!

[Josh @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:22AM]

I wasn't too impressed with this robot... but in general, the advances we are seeing are impressive. Here's an article about robots developing emotional bonding http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=526&doc_id=155718&f_src=flffour

[clowntree @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:27PM]

pushing is the answer, humans must be pushed they must go down the stairs.