From biology to robots: the RobotCub project
Until recently, the study of cognition and the neurophysiological basis of human behavior was the subject of quite separate disciplines such as psychology, neurophysiology, cognitive science, computer science, and philosophy, among others. Mental processes were mainly studied in the framework of abstract theories, mathematical models, and disembodied artificial intelligence. It has now become clear that mental processes are strongly entwined with the physical structure of the body and its interaction with the environment.
As such, the study of cognition and intelligence is more and more dependent on the use of physical bodies, and, ultimately, on the use of humanoid robots. The RobotCub humanoid platform represents an opportunity to move this research agenda forward: through open collaboration, on the common theme of embodied cognition, enabled by a shared humanoid platform, and supported by an institute capable of delivering on this vision in the long run.
I will present results on modeling computational processes of the brain in the field of action recognition and speech perception and connect them to the development of the RobotCub project. I will also show various preliminary porting of these ideas on the RobotCub humanoid robot.
Speaker Details
Giorgio Metta is senior scientist at the Italian Institute of Technology and assistant professor at the University of Genoa where he teaches courses on anthropomorphic robotics and intelligent systems for the bioengineering curricula. He holds a MS with honors (in 1994) and PhD (in 2000) in electronic engineering both from the University of Genoa. From 2001 to 2002 he was postdoctoral associate at the MIT AI-Lab where he worked on various humanoid robotic platforms. He is assistant professor at the University of Genoa since 2005 and with IIT since 2006.Giorgio Metta research activities are in the fields of biologically motivated and humanoid robotics and in particular in developing life-long developing artificial systems that show some of the abilities of natural systems. His research developed in collaboration with leading European and international scientists from different disciplines like neuroscience, psychology, and robotics.Giorgio Metta is author of approximately 100 publications. He has been working as principal investigator and research scientist in several international and national funded projects. He has been reviewer for international journals and the European Commission 7th Framework Programme.
- Date:
- Speakers:
- Giorgio Metta
- Affiliation:
- Italian Institute of Technology and University of Genoa
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Jeff Running
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