Robots typically acquire new capacities by imitation. Now, EPFL scientists are doing the inverse - developing machines that can learn more rapidly and outperform humans by starting from failed or inaccurate demonstrations. A robot, unblinking, impassive, observes. Its instructor wants it to learn how to put a balloon in a basket 20 meters away. As the researcher demonstrates this task, which is difficult for a human to accomplish, she systematically misses the basket. Isn't the scientist just wasting her time? Typically looked at simply as useless mistakes, failed demonstrations can, on the contrary, be opportunities to learn better, claim scientists from EPFL. Their unusual point of view has led to the development of novel algorithms.
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