# HG changeset patch # User Robert McIntyre # Date 1342714346 18000 # Node ID 9ba3959b261b693dab019939ad92a7fe0a0ae904 # Parent ff1957cc46605c04d716844038842b63fc42c9f1 modify winston-intro diff -r ff1957cc4660 -r 9ba3959b261b winston-intro.txt --- a/winston-intro.txt Sun Jun 17 00:09:57 2012 -0500 +++ b/winston-intro.txt Thu Jul 19 11:12:26 2012 -0500 @@ -1,13 +1,15 @@ Dear Professor Winston, -I've finished the first part of my project, building a framework for -virtual sensate creatures; I would like your help evaluating what I've -done so far, and deciding what to do next. +I've finished the first part of my project, building a +framework for virtual sensate creatures; I would like your +help evaluating what I've done so far, and deciding what to +do next. -For the work I've done so far, I compiled the results into short -articles that explain how I implemented each sense, with videos that -show each sense in action. Please look through the articles, in -particular the video showcase, and tell me what you think. +For the work I've done so far, I compiled the results into +short articles that explain how I implemented each sense, +with videos that show each sense in action. Please look +through the articles, in particular the video showcase, and +tell me what you think. Video Showcase : http://aurellem.org/cortex/org/cover.html @@ -19,66 +21,77 @@ Vision : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/vision.html Hearing : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/hearing.html Touch : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/touch.html -Proprioception : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/proprioception.html +Proprioception : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/proprioception.html Muscles : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/movement.html Full Demonstration : http://aurellem.org/cortex/html/integration.html -I think this work could be a fruitful foundation for a Master's -thesis, so in particular, I'd like critiques, suggestions, and project -ideas. For example, here are some projects I think would be worthy, in -increasing order of complexity: +I think this work could be a fruitful foundation for a +Master's thesis, so in particular, I'd like critiques, +suggestions, and project ideas. For example, here are some +projects I think would be worthy, in increasing order of +complexity: - * Create a self-powered joint that can determine its range of - motion and joint type (hinge, cone, point-to-point, etc.) by - making exploratory muscle movements and observing their effect. + * Create a self-powered joint that can determine its + range of motion and joint type (hinge, cone, + point-to-point, etc.) by making exploratory muscle + movements and observing their effect. - * Develop an agent that writes and debugs low-level motor control - programs to achieve simple goals like "look at the light" or - "extend all of your fingers". These simple "calisthenic" - programs could then be combined to form more elaborate - procedures of motion, which in turn could be the basic - instinctive reflexes in the "spinal cord" of some more advanced - creature. (like Sussman's HACKER program but in a richer world) + * Develop an agent that writes and debugs low-level + motor control programs to achieve simple goals like + "look at the light" or "extend all of your + fingers". These simple "calisthenic" programs could + then be combined to form more elaborate procedures of + motion, which in turn could be the basic instinctive + reflexes in the "spinal cord" of some more advanced + creature. (like Sussman's HACKER program but in a + richer world) * Program a group of creatures that cooperate with each - other. Because the creatures would be simulated, I could - investigate computationally complex rules of behavior which - still, from the group's point of view, would happen in "real - time". Interactions could be as simple as cellular organisms - communicating via flashing lights, or as complex as humanoids - completing social tasks, etc. + other. Because the creatures would be simulated, I + could investigate computationally complex rules of + behavior which still, from the group's point of view, + would happen in "real time". Interactions could be as + simple as cellular organisms communicating via + flashing lights, or as complex as humanoids completing + social tasks, etc. - * Simulated Imagination -- this would involve a creature with an - effector which creates an entire new sub-simulation where the - creature has direct control over placement/creation of objects - via simulated telekinesis. The creature observes this sub-world - through it's normal senses and uses its observations to make - predictions about its top level world. + * Simulated Imagination -- this would involve a creature + with an effector which creates an entire new + sub-simulation where the creature has direct control + over placement/creation of objects via simulated + telekinesis. The creature observes this sub-world + through it's normal senses and uses its observations + to make predictions about its top level world. - * Integrate the simulated world with Genesis, so that Genesis - could use the simulated world to answer questions about a - proposed physical scenario. For example "You stack two blocks - together, then hit the bottom block with your hand. Does the top - block move?". This project is complicated and very large in - scope, but it could be narrowed to focus on a single key - aspect. For example, one key aspect of turning a scenario into a - simulation is knowing when you're constructing "typical" or - "atypical" examples of the scenario. So, a narrower project - might simply learn about the edge cases of different scenarios - (e.g. "A block stacked on top of another block is usually - stable, provided the bottom block is large enough, and is not - moving, and is level, etc."). With this knowledge, this kind of - program could aid Genesis not only in answering common-sense - questions, but in refining them: "A block is stacked on top of - another block. Is it stable?"; "Usually, but do you know if the - bottom block is slanted?", etc. + * Integrate the simulated world with Genesis, so that + Genesis could use the simulated world to answer + questions about a proposed physical scenario. For + example "You stack two blocks together, then hit the + bottom block with your hand. Does the top block + move?". This project is complicated and very large in + scope, but it could be narrowed to focus on a single + key aspect. For example, one key aspect of turning a + scenario into a simulation is knowing when you're + constructing "typical" or "atypical" examples of the + scenario. So, a narrower project might simply learn + about the edge cases of different scenarios (e.g. "A + block stacked on top of another block is usually + stable, provided the bottom block is large enough, and + is not moving, and is level, etc."). With this + knowledge, this kind of program could aid Genesis not + only in answering common-sense questions, but in + refining them: "A block is stacked on top of another + block. Is it stable?"; "Usually, but do you know if + the bottom block is slanted?", etc. -These are some ideas, but I think you can come up with better ones. I -can't wait to hear your critiques and suggestions. +These are some ideas, but I think you can come up with +better ones. I can't wait to hear your critiques and +suggestions. -Finally, regarding next year at MIT, can I be considered for the -position of TA for 6.034 or 6.xxx? Also, do you want me to return to -MIT at the beginning of Fall or at the beginning of Summer? +Finally, regarding next year at MIT, can I be considered for +the position of TA for 6.034 or 6.xxx? Also, do you want me +to return to MIT at the beginning of Fall or at the +beginning of Summer? Sincerely, --Robert McIntyre