For 29 years, AI-driven robot design has required weeks on a supercomputer. Today, in #PNAS, we report how modern AI can design robots in 30 seconds, on a laptop. Joint work w/ David Matthews, Andrew Spielberg, Daniela Rus, and Sam Kriegman (Sam Kriegman)

Paper:

Technical details:

This work takes us one step closer to "personal robotics": Tell an AI what you want a robot to do (e.g. unclog a drain). The AI designs a robot for you in simulation (30s). Your desktop 3D printer prints it (a few hrs). Toss the robot down the drain (to unclog it).

My co-authors put in tons of blood, sweat, and tears, over three years, to make this a reality. But special congratulations go to David Matthews, who did a lot of the work while an undergraduate student here at @uvmvermont. Congrats David, and team!

"For 29 years..." In 1994 (29 years ago), Karl Sims reported the first "virtual creatures" designed by an AI: In 2000, @hodlipson showed how those virtual creatures could be 3D printed as physical robots:

and @denizzokt: perhaps we can combine forces to make self-motile, morphologically computing machines? 21st century embodied AI anyone? @rodneyabrooks

@Kriegmerica mom! the jello is moving!

@Kriegmerica Congratulations @Kriegmerica and David. AI-driven robot design is the future. I wonder if it is possible to integrate more prior design knowledge into the design process...

@kenneth0stanley @Kriegmerica This is mind blowing work. Thank you.

@Kriegmerica Great!! When will the simulator source be available? Asking on behalf of the entire #RoboSoft community!