Science Japanese scientist unveils ‘thinking’ robot

mikey23545 · 05:04 PM

Robots that learn from experience and can solve novel problems — just like humans — sound like science fiction.

But a Japanese reasearcher is working on making them science fact, with machines that can teach themselves to perform tasks they have not been programmed to do, using objects they have never seen before.

In a world first, Osamu Hasegawa, associate professor at the Tokyo Insitute of Technology, has developed a system that allows robots to look around their environment and do research on the Internet, enabling them to “think” how best to solve a problem.

“Most existing robots are good at processing and performing the tasks they are pre-programmed to do, but they know little about the ‘real world’ where we humans live,” he told AFP.

“So our project is an attempt to build a bridge between robots and that real world,” he said.

The Self-Organizing Incremental Neural Network, or “SOINN”, is an algorithm that allows robots to use their knowledge — what they already know — to infer how to complete tasks they have been told to do.

SOINN examines the environment to gather the data it needs to organise the information it has been given into a coherent set of instructions.

Tell a SOINN-powered machine that it should, for example: “Serve water”.

Without special programmes for water-serving, the robot works out the order of the actions required to complete the task.

The SOINN machine asks for help when facing a task beyond its ability and crucially, stores the information it learns for use in a future task.

In a separate experiment, SOINN is used to power machines to search the Internet for information on what something looks like, or what a particular word might mean.

Hasegawa’s team is trying to merge these abilities and create a machine that can work out how to perform a given task through online research.

“In the future, we believe it will be able to ask a computer in England how to brew a cup of tea and perform the task in Japan,” he said.

Like humans, the system can also filter out “noise” or insignificant information that might confuse other robots.

The process is similar to how people can carry on a conversation with a travelling companion on a train and ignore those around them, or can identify an object under different lighting and from various angles, Hasegawa said.

“Human brains do this so well automatically and smoothly so we don’t realise that we are even doing this,” he said.

Similarly, the machine is able to filter out irrelevant results it finds on the web.

“There is a huge amount of information available on the Internet, but at present, only humans are making use of such information,” he said.

“This robot can connect its brain directly to the Internet,” he said.

Hasegawa hopes SOINN might one day be put to practical use, for example controlling traffic lights to ease traffic jams by organically analysing data from public monitors and accident reports.

He also points to possible uses in earthquake detection systems where a SOINN-equipped machine might be able to aggregate data from numerous sensors located across Japan and identify movements that might prove significant.

In a domestic setting, a robot that could learn could prove invaluable to a busy household.

“We might ask a robot to bring soy sauce to the dinner table. It might browse the Internet to learn what soy sauce is and identify it in the kitchen,” said Hasegawa.

But, cautions the professor, there are reasons to be careful about robots that can learn.

What kinds of tasks should we allow computers to perform? And is it possible that they might turn against us, like in the apocalyptic vision of Stanley Kubrick’s film “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

“A kitchen knife is a useful thing. But it can also become a weapon,” he said.

While Hasegawa and his team have only benign intentions for their invention, he wants people to be aware of its moral limits.

“We are hoping that a variety of people will discuss this technology, when to use it, when not to use it.

“Technology is advancing at an enormous speed,” he said.

“I want people to know we already have this kind of technology. We want people with different backgrounds and in different fields to discuss how it should be used, while it is still in its infancy.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/1...hinking-robot/

jd1020 · 10-11-2011, 05:01 PM

12, 12, 2012 is just around the corner.

SnakeXJones · 10-11-2011, 05:01 PM

How long until skynet is down?

ModSocks · 10-11-2011, 05:02 PM

This is how sci-fi horror movies start.

mikey23545 · 10-11-2011, 05:03 PM

“This robot can connect its brain directly to the Internet,” he said.

Nothing unsettling here.

Johnny Vegas · 10-11-2011, 05:05 PM

the world will end now that the Robot will use Wiki as a source for its research

mikey23545 · 10-11-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Vegas

the world will end now that the Robot will use Wiki as a source for its research

Or Chiefsplanet.

**BossChief** · 10-11-2011, 05:08 PM

I remember that robot from Rocky.

SnakeXJones · 10-11-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I remember that robot from Rocky.

Burt Young just got a boner

mikey23545 · 10-11-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

I remember that robot from Rocky.

I think that's just some stock photo they used for this article.

threebag · 10-11-2011, 05:11 PM

“This robot can connect its brain directly to the Internet,” he said.

Al Gore Likes THIS

saphojunkie · 10-11-2011, 05:12 PM

"Robot - please make me a ham sandwich."

+task search: ham sandwich.

+task process update: how to cook a ham.

+task search: ham cooking methods/united states

=query find: salt-cure ham/special exception - Jews/Catholics on Friday.

+domain clarification: automator is Catholic.

=query find: is it Friday?

+domain clarification: It's Friday/Gotta get down on Friday.

+Task re-automating.

*processing

...

*processing

...

+new task: Kill Rebecca Black.

Yeah...I'm cool with this new technology.

Johnny Vegas · 10-11-2011, 05:14 PM

"he wants people to be aware of its moral limits."

this scares me. so it won't know from right or wrong just know the objects uses.

Discuss Thrower · 10-11-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheap Bastard

Or Chiefsplanet.

Because of its high affinity for oxygen at elevated temperatures, and its ability to reduce water when its oxide film is removed, the extraction of beryllium from its compounds is a difficult process. Electrolysis of a mixture of beryllium fluoride and sodium fluoride was used to isolate beryllium during the 19th century. The metal's high melting point makes this process more energy-consuming than corresponding processes used for the alkali metals. Early in the 20th century, the production of beryllium by the thermal decomposition of beryllium iodide was investigated following the success of a similar process for the production of zirconium, but this process proved to be uneconomical for volume production.

Johnny Vegas · 10-11-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

"Robot - please make me a ham sandwich."

+task search: ham sandwich.

+task process update: how to cook a ham.

+task search: ham cooking methods/united states

=query find: salt-cure ham/special exception - Jews/Catholics on Friday.

+domain clarification: automator is Catholic.

=query find: is it Friday?

+domain clarification: It's Friday/Gotta get down on Friday.

+Task re-automating.

*processing

...

*processing

...

+new task: Kill Rebecca Black.

Yeah...I'm cool with this new technology.

I could turn a blind eye

10-11-2011, 04:59 PM
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	Japanese scientist unveils ‘thinking’ robot Robots that learn from experience and can solve novel problems — just like humans — sound like science fiction. But a Japanese reasearcher is working on making them science fact, with machines that can teach themselves to perform tasks they have not been programmed to do, using objects they have never seen before. In a world first, Osamu Hasegawa, associate professor at the Tokyo Insitute of Technology, has developed a system that allows robots to look around their environment and do research on the Internet, enabling them to “think” how best to solve a problem. “Most existing robots are good at processing and performing the tasks they are pre-programmed to do, but they know little about the ‘real world’ where we humans live,” he told AFP. “So our project is an attempt to build a bridge between robots and that real world,” he said. The Self-Organizing Incremental Neural Network, or “SOINN”, is an algorithm that allows robots to use their knowledge — what they already know — to infer how to complete tasks they have been told to do. SOINN examines the environment to gather the data it needs to organise the information it has been given into a coherent set of instructions. Tell a SOINN-powered machine that it should, for example: “Serve water”. Without special programmes for water-serving, the robot works out the order of the actions required to complete the task. The SOINN machine asks for help when facing a task beyond its ability and crucially, stores the information it learns for use in a future task. In a separate experiment, SOINN is used to power machines to search the Internet for information on what something looks like, or what a particular word might mean. Hasegawa’s team is trying to merge these abilities and create a machine that can work out how to perform a given task through online research. “In the future, we believe it will be able to ask a computer in England how to brew a cup of tea and perform the task in Japan,” he said. Like humans, the system can also filter out “noise” or insignificant information that might confuse other robots. The process is similar to how people can carry on a conversation with a travelling companion on a train and ignore those around them, or can identify an object under different lighting and from various angles, Hasegawa said. “Human brains do this so well automatically and smoothly so we don’t realise that we are even doing this,” he said. Similarly, the machine is able to filter out irrelevant results it finds on the web. “There is a huge amount of information available on the Internet, but at present, only humans are making use of such information,” he said. “This robot can connect its brain directly to the Internet,” he said. Hasegawa hopes SOINN might one day be put to practical use, for example controlling traffic lights to ease traffic jams by organically analysing data from public monitors and accident reports. He also points to possible uses in earthquake detection systems where a SOINN-equipped machine might be able to aggregate data from numerous sensors located across Japan and identify movements that might prove significant. In a domestic setting, a robot that could learn could prove invaluable to a busy household. “We might ask a robot to bring soy sauce to the dinner table. It might browse the Internet to learn what soy sauce is and identify it in the kitchen,” said Hasegawa. But, cautions the professor, there are reasons to be careful about robots that can learn. What kinds of tasks should we allow computers to perform? And is it possible that they might turn against us, like in the apocalyptic vision of Stanley Kubrick’s film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. “A kitchen knife is a useful thing. But it can also become a weapon,” he said. While Hasegawa and his team have only benign intentions for their invention, he wants people to be aware of its moral limits. “We are hoping that a variety of people will discuss this technology, when to use it, when not to use it. “Technology is advancing at an enormous speed,” he said. “I want people to know we already have this kind of technology. We want people with different backgrounds and in different fields to discuss how it should be used, while it is still in its infancy.” http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/1...hinking-robot/ Last edited by mikey23545; 10-11-2011 at 05:04 PM..
Posts: 12,314

10-11-2011, 05:01 PM	#2
jd1020 In Search of a Life Join Date: Nov 2010 Casino cash: $7752645	12, 12, 2012 is just around the corner.
Posts: 24,319

10-11-2011, 05:01 PM	#3
SnakeXJones In Snake We Trust Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KCK Casino cash: $10004985	How long until skynet is down?
Posts: 2,272

10-11-2011, 05:02 PM	#4
ModSocks Needs more middle fingers Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $4314563	This is how sci-fi horror movies start. __________________ It's O'side or No side, baby.
Posts: 64,191

10-11-2011, 05:03 PM	#5
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	“This robot can connect its brain directly to the Internet,” he said. Nothing unsettling here.
Posts: 12,314

10-11-2011, 05:05 PM	#6
Johnny Vegas MVP Join Date: May 2008 Casino cash: $5823814	the world will end now that the Robot will use Wiki as a source for its research
Posts: 5,090

10-11-2011, 05:08 PM	#8
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $1914088	I remember that robot from Rocky. __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,106

10-11-2011, 05:11 PM	#11
threebag Snacks Are Under My Apron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Edge Casino cash: $3051660	“This robot can connect its brain directly to the Internet,” he said. Al Gore Likes THIS __________________ Free DeBerg HayWire Greatest Mod Ever In big nasty kcnut we trust
Posts: 23,859

10-11-2011, 05:12 PM	#12
saphojunkie MVP Join Date: Aug 2011 Casino cash: $4786250	"Robot - please make me a ham sandwich." +task search: ham sandwich. +task process update: how to cook a ham. +task search: ham cooking methods/united states =query find: salt-cure ham/special exception - Jews/Catholics on Friday. +domain clarification: automator is Catholic. =query find: is it Friday? +domain clarification: It's Friday/Gotta get down on Friday. +Task re-automating. processing ... processing ... +new task: Kill Rebecca Black. Yeah...I'm cool with this new technology.
Posts: 12,515

10-11-2011, 05:14 PM	#13
Johnny Vegas MVP Join Date: May 2008 Casino cash: $5823814	"he wants people to be aware of its moral limits." this scares me. so it won't know from right or wrong just know the objects uses.
Posts: 5,090