view winston-intro.txt @ 314:83dd76d9628e

fixed typo in body.org
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:06:10 -0600
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1 Dear Professor Winston,
3 I've finished the first part of my project, building a framework for
4 virtual sensate creatures; I would like your help evaluating what I've
5 done so far, and deciding what to do next.
7 For the work I've done so far, I compiled the results into short
8 articles that explain how I implemented each sense, with videos that
9 show each sense in action. Please look through the articles, in
10 particular the video showcase, and tell me what you think.
12 Video Showcase : http://aurellem.org/cortex/org/cover.html
14 Introduction:
15 http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/intro.html
16 http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/sense.html
18 Physical Bodies : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/body.html
19 Vision : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/vision.html
20 Hearing : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/hearing.html
21 Touch : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/touch.html
22 Proprioception : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/proprioception.html
23 Muscles : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/movement.html
24 Full Demonstration : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/integration.html
26 I think this work could be a fruitful foundation for a Master's
27 thesis, so in particular, I'd like critiques, suggestions, and project
28 ideas. For example, here are some projects I think would be worthy, in
29 increasing order of complexity:
31 * Create a self-powered joint that can determine its range of
32 motion and joint type (hinge, cone, point-to-point, etc.) by
33 making exploratory muscle movements and observing their effect.
35 * Develop an agent that writes and debugs low-level motor control
36 programs to achieve simple goals like "look at the light" or
37 "extend all of your fingers". These simple "calisthenic"
38 programs could then be combined to form more elaborate
39 procedures of motion, which in turn could be the basic
40 instinctive reflexes in the "spinal cord" of some more advanced
41 creature. (like Sussman's HACKER program but in a richer world)
43 * Program a group of creatures that cooperate with each
44 other. Because the creatures would be simulated, I could
45 investigate computationally complex rules of behavior which
46 still, from the group's point of view, would happen in "real
47 time". Interactions could be as simple as cellular organisms
48 communicating via flashing lights, or as complex as humanoids
49 completing social tasks, etc.
51 * Simulated Imagination -- this would involve a creature with an
52 effector which creates an entire new sub-simulation where the
53 creature has direct control over placement/creation of objects
54 via simulated telekinesis. The creature observes this sub-world
55 through it's normal senses and uses its observations to make
56 predictions about its top level world.
58 * Integrate the simulated world with Genesis, so that Genesis
59 could use the simulated world to answer questions about a
60 proposed physical scenario. For example "You stack two blocks
61 together, then hit the bottom block with your hand. Does the top
62 block move?". This project is complicated and very large in
63 scope, but it could be narrowed to focus on a single key
64 aspect. For example, one key aspect of turning a scenario into a
65 simulation is knowing when you're constructing "typical" or
66 "atypical" examples of the scenario. So, a narrower project
67 might simply learn about the edge cases of different scenarios
68 (e.g. "A block stacked on top of another block is usually
69 stable, provided the bottom block is large enough, and is not
70 moving, and is level, etc."). With this knowledge, this kind of
71 program could aid Genesis not only in answering common-sense
72 questions, but in refining them: "A block is stacked on top of
73 another block. Is it stable?"; "Usually, but do you know if the
74 bottom block is slanted?", etc.
76 These are some ideas, but I think you can come up with better ones. I
77 can't wait to hear your critiques and suggestions.
79 Finally, regarding next year at MIT, can I be considered for the
80 position of TA for 6.034 or 6.xxx? Also, do you want me to return to
81 MIT at the beginning of Fall or at the beginning of Summer?
83 Sincerely,
84 --Robert McIntyre