How Do Robots Learn? By Watching Themselves

By watching their own motions with a camera, robots can teach themselves about the structure of their own bodies and how they move, new research from Columbia Engineering reveals. Equipped with this knowledge, the robots could not only plan their own actions but also overcome damage to their bodies. Watch this video to learn more.

"Like humans learning to dance by watching their mirror reflection, robots now use raw video to build kinematic self-awareness," says study lead author Yuhang Hu , a doctoral student at the Creative Machines Lab at Columbia University, directed by Hod Lipson, James and Sally Scapa Professor of Innovation and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. "Our goal is a robot that understands its own body, adapts to damage, and learns new skills without constant human programming."