Stanford's autonomous helicopters learn new tricks by watching

While a great many scientists are attempting to create autonomous bots for uses in surgery, a team of Stanford whiz-kids are having a bit more fun with it all. The crew in question has concocted an artificial intelligence system that "enables robotic helicopters to teach themselves to fly difficult stunts by watching other helicopters perform the same maneuvers." Dubbed a demonstration in "apprenticeship learning," the robots can actually learn by observing rather than having to be programmed, meaning that entire airshows could be reeled off by planes that simply keep an open mind when warm-ups are underway. Of course, they could also be used for more serious applications -- mapping out hot spots of California wildfires, finding land mines in war zones, etc. -- but even if none of that pans out, we're cool with inventions being used purely for entertainment.

[rita hainsworth @ Sep 1st 2008 8:14PM]

I've learned many things by watching...

[Tinu @ Sep 1st 2008 8:20PM]

"apprenticeship learning" So these helicopters learn by watching each other? But who teaches the first helicopter?

[Flashpoint @ Sep 1st 2008 9:18PM]

I want to buy one of these so I can watch Sarah Palin go down in flames.

I wonder how many G's does an ultra-right wing pro-life conservative PULL when her unmarried, pregnant underaged daughter drags her down ????

[TomTom2007 @ Sep 1st 2008 9:22PM]

Chuck Norris

[Shyam D @ Sep 1st 2008 9:25PM]

Flashpoint, as long as she doesn't have an abortion the ultra-right wing voters will still vote for her mom, which is her sole purpose on the McCain Ticket ( Yes, I said it). So, it doesn't really matter.

[Flashpoint @ Sep 1st 2008 9:44PM]

For someone who came on interview and openly stated that she had no idea what a VP does, I find it hilarious that the slanted right wing media hasn't crucified her yet. She's nothing more than an image choice. A White Woman to snatch White votes from Obama. But IN HER OWN HOUSEHOLD...look at all the SIN GOING DOWN.
Underaged pregnancy...tsk tsk tsk.

If I were in her shoes, I'd get an abortion before its body segments even developed.

I just hope the left drives home the point that these people are CORRUPT.

[Wwhat @ Sep 1st 2008 9:44PM]

Don't forget that there's no way mccain would survives the entire term if he won, so she would be president at some point if he won.

[Mike10010100 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:33PM]

.......helicopters? Anyone hear anything about helicopters?

Thanks Flashpoint for turning this discussing completely off topic.

[Dorf @ Sep 2nd 2008 8:15AM]

She has about as much experience as John Edwards had 4 years ago and that slut almost beat Kerry for the nomination.

[BluesK1d @ Sep 2nd 2008 10:56AM]

@Douchepoint

Dude give your unsolicited leftist rehetoric a rest. Keep it on your MySpace blog next to your I

[OneLove @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:47AM]

no video (of the helicopters)?

[hiko36 @ Sep 1st 2008 8:17PM]

So how long till they learn to kill?

[tha-don @ Sep 1st 2008 8:18PM]

who said they haven't already?

[-Tj- @ Sep 1st 2008 10:51PM]

It only takes one to figure it out...

[master_sword @ Sep 1st 2008 8:24PM]

that is very cool, yet slightly disconcerting

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 1st 2008 8:26PM]

All they do is record your moves and play them back. They can also go backwards, so if you take off and fly a route to a place, they can reverse it and go back where they started.

I watched a video of Andy Rubin (founder of Android) doing this two years ago.

It's great to see Stanford catch up.

[chrismansley @ Sep 1st 2008 8:42PM]

Except that's not what they do at all. If you were to simply play back the same control inputs, the varying wind conditions would destroy the maneuver. If you watched Pieter Abbeel give a talk about this at UW, you would know that these are the most advanced maneuvers done by autonomous helicopters. So much so, that after NASA saw this they called him up and asked him to give a presentation to their autonomous group. So don't hate on Stanford.

Full Disclosure: I have nothing to do with Stanford or Pieter Abbeel. But, I do study reinforcement learning, so I am slightly biased.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 1st 2008 10:04PM]

They use GPS to correct for locational error.

This doesn't come into play for trick maneuvers, as those mostly change the attitude of the helicopter, not the position so much. Even if you do a trick (say a roll), the position of the chopper isn't really important, it's the rotation it does that makes the trick.

You're right I should have mentioned they are self-stabilizing, but most small RC helicopters already are at least somewhat self-stabilizing, as the tiny mass makes controlling the attitude very tricky for a human.

I wish I could find more info, like the video I saw. Here's the closest I can find, a mention in Wired that he has a self-piloted helicopter.

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/magazine/16-07/ff_android?currentPage=all

[ybd @ Sep 1st 2008 8:32PM]

These kind of things creep me out.

[deep @ Sep 1st 2008 8:43PM]

Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate....

[Wwhat @ Sep 1st 2008 9:47PM]

No doubt their biologic department is happily developing anti-human agents for distribution by these wonderful choppers, but that's not engadget news of course.

[Mr. S. @ Sep 1st 2008 8:44PM]

They must be better then me, cause i've been watching 3D Heli pilots for 10 years now and I still can't do any of the maneuvers they are doing.

SHALL WE PLAY A GAME?

[thrillchuckles @ Sep 1st 2008 8:57PM]

these guys are definitely getting laid for this..

[andres @ Sep 1st 2008 9:22PM]

then the helicopters try to mimic his actions and are destroyed in the process

[Coolishkoolkid @ Sep 1st 2008 9:26PM]

Anyone thinking Skynet here?

[andres @ Sep 1st 2008 9:27PM]

"deep @ Sep 1st 2008 8:43PM

Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate...."

[lorddshadow @ Sep 1st 2008 9:28PM]

begin the skynet comparisons in 3, 2, 1...

[Artie Lange @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:08AM]

But can they be taught to play Doom? Operate Iphones? Become Robot Overlords?

[Dylan @ Sep 1st 2008 9:44PM]

*It's nice to see the comment I posted earlier never went through. :P

If Hollywood has taught us anything it's not a good idea to create autonomous systems that can outrun us.

Fair warning: if you see any organizations experimenting with weapon systems for said devices it's a good idea to take cover somewhere underground.

[Wwhat @ Sep 1st 2008 9:50PM]

We'll just move in with osama.

[andres @ Sep 1st 2008 10:04PM]

these helicopters cant outrun us. they can out-fly us however.

[Dylan @ Sep 1st 2008 11:26PM]

Mere semantics. :P

Unless you can run faster than one of these can fly after you then you can't outrun it. If you can however let me get you a cookie. Chocolate chip or snickerdoodle? :)

[bw @ Sep 1st 2008 10:47PM]

Thats 's amazing, we are doomed.

[Kent @ Sep 1st 2008 11:51PM]

I, for one, welcome our new robot hover-lords

[Rynth @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:43AM]

Ahhhhhh, I see what you did there!

Hehehe..

[Artie Lange @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:12AM]

Do NOT let these things watch porno.

[Ritchie @ Sep 2nd 2008 1:58AM]

I am satisfied, wanted to see at least one "Skynet" comment!! - (@deep)

[Matt @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:39AM]

Can't wait to see these things at the 3D Masters next year!

[datatribe @ Sep 2nd 2008 2:32PM]

The Predator UAV has its roots in RC air craft. I have zeeero doubt the USAF, et al, are already talking to these guys and/or working on their own version - mit BFGs on board.

[Chris K @ Sep 17th 2008 4:37PM]

I wonder when these things start thinking for themselves and arming themselves who'll they go after first? Most likely the leftist socialist anti-gun crowd who will make the easiest targets...