SULLIVAN@lockheed.COM (09/28/87)
FROM: JOSEPH W. SULLIVAN O/90-06 B/259 (415)354-5213
SUBJECT: AIC COLLOQUIUM
The Lockheed AI Center is pleased to announce a presentation by
Dr. Michael R. Genesereth of the Logic Group at Stanford
University. An abstract of the presentation is provided below.
Proposal for Ten Years of Research on
Autonomous Construction Robots
Michael R. Genesereth, Ph.D.
DATE: 14 October 1987
TIME: 3:30
PLACE: Lockheed Artificial Intelligence Center
Main Conference Room
2710 Sand Hill Rd. (Lockheed Bld. #259)
Menlo Park
One of the boldest promises of Artificial Intelligence is
the creation of an autonomous robot, one that is capable of
functioning appropriately in an arbitrary environment so as to
achieve an arbitrary goal. The environment and goal are
described in advance by the robot's client, in as much or as
little detail as he desires. Given this description, the robot
then acts autonomously, sensing and acting on its environment in
a manner appropriate to the client's goal.
Although there have been efforts in the past to build such
robots, these efforts have not met with great success due to
limitations on various technological fronts. In recent years,
however, there has been significant progress on these fronts;
and, in light of this progress, it appears likely that, with
additional research and a strong effort at integration, it should
be possible within ten years to achieve this goal.
This talk describes one particular research project aimed at
achieving this goal. The project is a collaborative venture of
the Logic Group and the Robot Reasoning Group of Stanford
University and is just getting underway.
In order to ground our research and development, we have chosen
to concentrate on autonomous robots that are experts at the
construction of electromechanical artifacts. Insofar as good
methodology involves verification of proper construction, our
robots will also need to be experts at the testing of artifacts,
the diagnosis of observed failures, and their repair.
We believe this project to be a good one for several reasons.
First of all, the robots produced are likely to be applicable to
many military and industrial applications, e.g. small-scale
manufacturing, space-station assembly, planetary exploration,
engineering behind enemy lines, and operations at radioactive and
toxic chemical sites. Secondly, we believe the project will be
beneficial for research in both Artificial Intelligence and
Robotics by forcing the integration of results from disciplines
that have over the years grown apart. Finally, we believe that
the project, given its university setting, will have educational
benefit by once again holding up for students the exciting goal
of creating autonomous robots.