The Necessity of The Necessity of Manipulation for Intelligence Manipulation for Intelligence

in Robots in Robots

Soroush VosoughiSoroush VosoughiChristina HawkesChristina Hawkes

6.141 Debate #6 (pro side)6.141 Debate #6 (pro side)Spring 2007Spring 2007

The hand is the cutting edge of The hand is the cutting edge of the mindthe mind

-Jacob Bronowski-Jacob Bronowski

OverviewOverview

Definitions of “manipulation” and Definitions of “manipulation” and “intelligence”“intelligence”

Manipulation is vital to learningManipulation is vital to learning

Manipulation is required for understanding Manipulation is required for understanding things about the real worldthings about the real world

Learning and understanding are required Learning and understanding are required for intelligencefor intelligence

ManipulationManipulation

Any means (direct or indirect) for a robot to interact Any means (direct or indirect) for a robot to interact with the real worldwith the real world

Human-scale IntelligenceHuman-scale Intelligence

Intelligence that differentiates us from Intelligence that differentiates us from other animalsother animals

Grounded in the real worldGrounded in the real world

Important features: Important features: learning and adaptabilitylearning and adaptability robust reasoning and planningrobust reasoning and planning awareness of the real world and its existence awareness of the real world and its existence

in itin it

How to learn about the real worldHow to learn about the real world

How to learn about the real worldHow to learn about the real world

Can you do this without Can you do this without manipulation? Would a robot that manipulation? Would a robot that

couldn’t do this be intelligent?couldn’t do this be intelligent?

(video)(video)

Problems with lack of manipulationProblems with lack of manipulation

No active learning possibleNo active learning possible Learning about the world is slower and more Learning about the world is slower and more

limitedlimited Some kinds of learning not even possibleSome kinds of learning not even possible

No understanding of many properties of No understanding of many properties of objects in the real worldobjects in the real world