Cog was a project at the Humanoid Robotics Group of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was based on the hypothesis that human-level intelligence requires gaining experience from interacting with humans, like human infants do. This in turn required many interactions with humans over a long period. Because Cog's behavior responded to what humans would consider appropriate and socially salient environmental stimuli, the robot was expected to act more human. This behavior also provided the robot with a better context for deciphering and imitating human behavior. This was intended to allow the robot to learn socially, as humans do.
Contents
- Purpose of the Cog Project
- Goals of the Cog Project
- Research and advancements
- Justification
- Media appearances
- References
As of 2003, all development of the project had ceased.
Today Cog is retired to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology museum.
Purpose of the Cog Project
Goals of the Cog Project
Research and advancements
Justification
One motivation for making humanoid robots can be understood in the book Philosophy in the Flesh by Mark Johnson and George Lakoff. They argue that the contents of human thoughts are to some degree dependent on the physical structure of our brains. By constructing artificial intelligence systems that have structural features similar to those of humans, we may be more likely to achieve human-like functionality.
Another motivation for building humanoid robotic systems is that a machine with a human-like form may have more human-like interactions with people. This could be particularly important for an artificial intelligence device to learn from people in the way that human children learn through interactions within a social group.
Media appearances
Cog appeared in the Understanding television series episode "The Senses".
Cog appeared in Sherry Turkle's book Alone Together