Kanata Suzuki

Repeatable Folding Task by Humanoid Robot Worker Using Deep Learning

We propose a practical state-of-the-art method to develop a machine-learning-based humanoid robot that can work as a production line worker. The proposed approach provides an intuitive way to collect data and exhibits the following characteristics: task performing capability, task reiteration ability, generalizability, and easy applicability. The proposed approach utilizes a real-time user interface with a monitor and provides a first-person perspective using a head-mounted display. Through this interface, teleoperation is used for collecting task operating data, especially for tasks that are difficult to be applied with a conventional method. A two-phase deep learning model is also utilized in the proposed approach. A deep convolutional autoencoder extracts images features and reconstructs images, and a fully connected deep time delay neural network learns the dynamics of a robot task process from the extracted image features and motion angle signals. The “Nextage Open” humanoid robot is used as an experimental platform to evaluate the proposed model. The object folding task utilizing with 35 trained and 5 untrained sensory motor sequences for test. Testing the trained model with online generation demonstrates a 77.8% success rate for the object folding task.

Efficient Motor Babbling Using Variance Predictions from a Recurrent Neural Network

We propose an exploratory form of motor babbling that uses variance predictions from a recurrent neural network as a method to acquire the body dynamics of a robot with flexible joints. In conventional research methods, it is difficult to construct real robots because of the large number of motor babbling motions required. In motor babbling, different motions may be easy or difficult to predict. The variance is large in difficult-to-predict motions, whereas the variance is small in easy-to-predict motions. We use a Stochastic Continuous Timescale Recurrent Neural Network to predict the accuracy and variance of motions. Using the proposed method, a robot can explore motions based on variance. To evaluate the proposed method, experiments were conducted in which the robot learns crank turning and door opening/closing tasks after exploring its body dynamics. The results show that the proposed method is capable of efficient motion generation for any given motion tasks.