Robot Kindergarten Opens in Beijing to Teach Robots Autonomous Learning and Interaction

A "robot kindergarten" designed to train humanoid robots has opened in Beijing, China, according to local media outlets, including the state-run English-language newspaper Global Times.

Opened on the 1st (local time) in Beijing's Shijingshan District, 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.

Media reports highlighted that the defining feature of the facility lies in the robots' autonomous learning.

Rather than relying on humans to demonstrate tasks, the facility aims to have robots learn through touch, trial and error, and experience.

The Global Times reported that at the robot kindergarten, robots were actually observed 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 modifies its next movement to avoid making the same mistake.

According to the Chinese robotics online platform "Robot Great 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 the kindergarten officially opened just 37 days after its concept was announced, thanks to the support of Beijing municipal authorities and the state-owned Shougang Group. He emphasized, "Based on our accumulated technology in the field of tactile perception, we will provide the 'children' of the robot kindergarten with a starting point to perceive the world."

Chris de Asis, a global senior researcher at the U.S. research institution Open Mind, and Hou Guangdong, vice president of research and development at Tasson Technology, have established seven joint research tasks for the robot kindergarten's autonomous learning.

The plan is to utilize low-cost, easy-to-maintain robots for continuous repetitive learning while encouraging active exploration by the robots.

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

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

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