The Humanoid Robotics Group is a division of MIT's Artificicial Intelligence Laboratory. In recent years the AI Lab's focus of exploration has been on perception and motor systems as the keys to understanding intelligence. The Humanoid Robotics Group has developed four robots that interact with not only their environment but humans as well. The Humanoid Robotics Group site has several sections, each devoted to these prototypes, as well as to their creators, and includes descriptions, photographs/video clips, and articles/publications related to robotic research.
Type of Material:
This site contains text, graphics, photos, and video clips.
Recommended Uses:
This site is a very good resource for individuals pursuing current information on artificial intelligence and its application to robotics. Students who are studying artificial intelligence could be referred to this site to provide them with a glimpse of how this subject is studied.
Technical Requirements:
There are video clips offered in various formats; Realplayer was effective in viewing them.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The goal of the Humanoid Robotics Group site is to expose the viewer to the enormously complex issues associated with artificial intelligence and its application to the creation of robots that can at all levels interact with their environments.
Target Student Population:
The target population is college level students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
None.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The content quality of the site is superb, although at times somewhat overwhelming. A cursory review of some of the material and one quickly realizes the enormity of the tasks in developing humanoid robots. The site is engaging and provides the visitor with an understanding of how artificial intelligence is approached in a lab setting.
Concerns:
The site does not seek to be complete or provide needed background information. For example, the Turing Test is mentioned in a FAQs page and not explained. Explanatory material on the Turing test would be a logical element to include in the site.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
There is a wealth of information contained on this site. Students involved in the study of robotics or artificial intelligence will find this site to be an excellent reference source.
Concerns:
This is not designed as a teaching tool and, as a consequence, has limited use.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The site's seven sections are easily accessible from the home page. Links to current research, articles, and publications are numerous, although WinZip must be downloaded.
Concerns:
There were numerous dead links, no links in some places where links would be expected, and some of the video links were not functional.
Creative Commons:
Search by ISBN?
It looks like you have entered an ISBN number. Would you like to search using what you have
entered as an ISBN number?
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
