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Evolving controllers for robots with multimodal locomotion

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Resumo:Animals have inspired numerous studies on robot locomotion, but the problem of how autonomous robots can learn to take advantage of multimodal locomotion remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we study how a robot with two different means of locomotion can effective learn when to use each one based only on the limited information it can obtain through its onboard sensors. We conduct a series of simulation-based experiments using a task where a wheeled robot capable of jumping has to navigate to a target destination as quickly as possible in environments containing obstacles. We apply evolutionary techniques to synthesize neural controllers for the robot, and we analyze the evolved behaviors. The results show that the robot succeeds in learning when to drive and when to jump. The results also show that, compared with unimodal locomotion, multimodal locomotion allows for simpler and higher performing behaviors to evolve.
Autores principais:Ramos, R.
Outros Autores:Duarte, M.; Oliveira, S. M.; Christensen, A. L.
Assunto:Evolutionary robotics Multimodal locomotion Navigation task
Ano:2016
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:documento de conferência
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:ISCTE
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório ISCTE
Descrição
Resumo:Animals have inspired numerous studies on robot locomotion, but the problem of how autonomous robots can learn to take advantage of multimodal locomotion remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we study how a robot with two different means of locomotion can effective learn when to use each one based only on the limited information it can obtain through its onboard sensors. We conduct a series of simulation-based experiments using a task where a wheeled robot capable of jumping has to navigate to a target destination as quickly as possible in environments containing obstacles. We apply evolutionary techniques to synthesize neural controllers for the robot, and we analyze the evolved behaviors. The results show that the robot succeeds in learning when to drive and when to jump. The results also show that, compared with unimodal locomotion, multimodal locomotion allows for simpler and higher performing behaviors to evolve.