Researchers Develop ARMAR-III Robot

European researchers have developed the AMAR III robot that can communicate with objects via the sense of touch without requiring a huge repository of instructions for each object it might come across.

This project is termed as PACO-PLUS research and is based on ‘embodied cognition’ principle. This principle depends on mutual interaction between the processor’s ‘eyes’ and the sensors found in the robot’s hands, enabling the robot to resolve issues that were unpredicted by its developers. Hence when AMAR encounters a new task, it explores various options of either moving or gazing at objects till its processor makes the necessary links.

The robot has learnt to identify common objects of the kitchen including multicolored cups, plates and boxes containing cereal. It reacts to instructions and then performs various actions like carrying the objects and positioning them in a dishwasher. It can arrange a table even if a cup is placed on its route. The robot will identify that a moveable cup is placed on its way and will conclude that if not removed, it would be hit over. So the robot places the cup away from its way and then continues with its job.

Tamim Asfour, Project Coordinator, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, has stated that the components of AMAR’s tasks include recognition of verbal commands, creation of actions and objects representation and utilizing these components to determine the appropriate method of performing the command. In order to reduce time factor involved in learning all the three components by trial and error procedure, one of the components was provided to AMAR and the rest were determined by the robot with the help of clues given through programming. The clues include providing names to objects and demos made by a human.

The major scientific accomplishment of this study was to develop a system that can create representations of objects using its sensory perception and linking that with mutual verbal interaction. The method of thinking showcased by AMAR imitates the way humans recognize their surroundings.

The PACO-PLUS project was conducted for four years and it was sponsored by the European Commission’s Cognition Unit. The major focus of the project was to enhance the deployment of innovative robots in real world and interact effectively with humans.