Learning How to Walk First... 'Robot Kindergarten' Opens in Beijing

A "robot kindergarten" designed for humanoid robot training has opened in Beijing, China, according to state-run English-language media Global Times and other local outlets.

Opened in Beijing's Shijingshan District on the 1st (local time), the robot kindergarten was jointly established by tactile sensor company Tasson Technology and a research team led by Dr. Richard Sutton, a Turing Award winner and pioneer in reinforcement learning.

The outlets reported that the key feature of this facility lies in the robots' autonomous learning.

Rather than having humans demonstrate tasks, the facility is designed for robots to learn through touch, trial and error, and experience.

The Global Times reported that robots at the kindergarten were actually seen repeatedly attempting actions and adjusting their behaviors on their own.

For example, if a robot learning how to walk bumps into a wall, it records the situation and changes its next movement to avoid making the same mistake.

According to the Chinese robotics online platform "Robot Lecture Hall," Dr. Sutton, who met the "robot kindergarten students" at the opening ceremony, explained that the goal is to provide a safe environment where robots can understand their own bodies and interact with the physical world through experience.

He emphasized that achieving this requires not only new algorithms, but also robots and environments specifically designed for learning.

Ma Yang, CEO of Tasson Technology, noted that with the support of Beijing municipal authorities and state-owned Shougang Group, the kindergarten officially opened just 37 days after its concept was announced. "Based on the technology we have accumulated in the field of tactile perception, we will provide the 'children' of the robot kindergarten with a starting point to perceive the world," he emphasized.

Chris De Assis, global senior research fellow at the U.S. research institution OpenMind, and Hou Guangdong, vice president of research and development at Tasson Technology, established seven joint research tasks for the robot kindergarten's autonomous learning.

The plan is to conduct continuous repetitive learning using low-cost, easy-to-maintain robots and encourage their active exploration.

China, which has strategically fostered the robotics industry, is expanding training facilities for real-world industrial applications.

Training centers in Beijing's Yizhuang and Shijingshan districts have already established various learning environments ranging from precision tasks to housework.

(Photo captured from Chinese robotics online platform "Robot Lecture Hall", Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.