Talking to Robots: Learning to Ground Human
Language in Robotic Perception

Cynthia Matuszek
University of Washington

1:00pm Monday, 7 April 2014, ITE325b, UMBC

Advances in computation, sensing, and hardware are enabling robots to perform an increasing variety of tasks in ever less constrained settings. It is now possible to imagine robots that can operate in traditionally human-centric settings. However, such robots need the flexibility to take instructions and learn about tasks from nonspecialists using language and other natural modalities. At the same time, learning to process natural language about the physical world is difficult without a robot’s sensors and actuators. Combining these areas to create useful robotic systems is a fundamentally multidisciplinary problem, requiring advances in natural language processing, machine learning, robotics, and human-robot interaction. In this talk, I describe my work on learning natural language from end users in a physical context; such language allows a person to communicate their needs in a natural, unscripted way. I demonstrate that this approach can enable a robot to follow directions, learn about novel objects in the world, and perform simple tasks such as navigating an unfamiliar map or putting away objects.

Cynthia Matuszek is a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Washington Computer Science and Engineering department, where she is a member of both the Robotics and State Estimation lab and the Language, Interaction, and Learning group. She earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin, and M.Sc. from the University of Washington. She is published in the areas of artificial intelligence, robotics, ubiquitous computing, and human-robot interaction.

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Every week we feature a set of comics created exclusively for WDD.

The content revolves around web design, blogging and funny situations that we encounter in our daily lives as designers.

These great cartoons are created by Jerry King, an award-winning cartoonist who’s one of the most published, prolific and versatile cartoonists in the world today.

So for a few moments, take a break from your daily routine, have a laugh and enjoy these funny cartoons.

Feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below as well as any related stories of your own…

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Misunderstood

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The common American vision of Afghanistan is bleak: dusty streets, war, and rampant oppression.

But hidden in this dire picture, little glimmers of hope are to be found.

One of these is Habiba Sarabi.

She is the current Minister of Woman’s Affairs -but  she may be in line for a promotion.

In the upcoming national elections, Presidential candidate Zalmay Rassoul has chosen her as one of his running mates. She is one of 300 women who are running for provisional council seast around the country.

“[Women] are very surprised, they are very happy – they couldn’t imagine that a woman can be a leader, the third highest position in the country” 

It appears women candidates, women’s issues and women voters will play a major role in this weekend’s first round of elections.

Despite the promise for change, people are being very cautious in their optimism. 

 The Taliban has vowed to disrupt the election… with violence.

Already, two journalists have been the target of their attacks. In the past, women have been prevented from voting in the conservative, rural, areas of Afghanistan.

In response, the government has hired  13,000 more female security guards to help in the voting proceedings.

Until Sunday though, we’re going to have to wait (patiently…? Maybe) to see the first results of what promises to be an historic election.