The robots are now able to imitate the strengths and weaknesses of an individual in a game Researchers at the University Carlos III of Madrid have programmed behavioral clones. Human action of a specific player is first recorded through a video game, Robosoccer. “The system observes the stimuli that the individual receives from the screen, and the actions it sets up the keyboard in order to score a goal or passing the ball,” says Ricardo Aler, one of the researchers. The computer then programmed the robot, using data collected on the skills and weaknesses of the player. Once it learned behavior, the robot for reuse in the context of a real party on the ground.

RoboCup breeding ground for innovation
It responds to various situations that come before him, according to the behavior that the human player has developed during the initial part virtual. The Spanish team, like other teams of researchers, optimizes its clone for RoboCup: an international football championship organized to promote the development of artificial intelligence and robotics. By 2050, the participants want to develop a team of fully autonomous robots capable of beating the best team of human players. “As what came to be the computer Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov at chess in 1997,” said Ricardo Aler.

Cloning behavioral
The goal of behavioral cloning is to build models of reactions to clone an agent, here the robot soccer player. Several applications have been derived from studies on the subject. The project Alvinn, for example, observes a motorist to reproduce the behavior of conduct. Another project examines the attitude of a driver to control a flight simulator. In the video game industry, clone behavioral opens new perspectives for the use of real human qualities and flaws. The next international championship soccer robotics will be held this summer in Graz, Austria.