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We have seen movies portray robots that can move through the world as easily as humans. But in reality, the creation of robots with these skill sets remains a major challenge. Now, US-based researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have developed a robotic machine which has a mobile robotic arm which let it ‘see’ its environment through a digital camera.

The research team – led by Oliver Brock, a professor of computer science – had dubbed their creation ‘the UMan’, or UMass Mobile Manipulator.

“Mobile robots play an important role in many settings, including planetary exploration and manufacturing,” says Dov Katz, a doctoral student of computer science. “Giving them the ability to manipulate objects will extend their use in daily activities.”

Like a child forming a memory, UMan then stores this knowledge of how the objects move as a “kinematic model” which can be used to perform specific tasks, such as opening scissors to a 90 degree angle. In tests, the UMan easily completed these tasks.

So far, the team has taught the automaton to approach unfamiliar objects – such as scissors, wooden toys, etc – and learn how they work by touching them and observing how they can be used: The same process used by children as they explore the world.