Robots learn to create language
May 17, 2011 by Katie Gatto 
The go-to game allows the agents to test their toponymic lexicon by specifying a target location (B) to meet at. Image credit: Ruth Schulz
(PhysOrg.com) -- Communication is a vital part of any task that has to be done by more than one individual. That is why humans in every corner of the world have created their own complex languages that help us share the goal. As it turns out, we are not alone in that need, or in our ability to create a language of our own.
Researchers at the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology have created a pair of robots who are creating their own language. The bots, which are being taught how to speak but not given specific languages, are learning to create a lexicon of their own.
The bots, which have been aptly named Lingodroids, consist of a fairly basic setup when it comes to hardware. The robot consists of a mobile platform that has been equipped with a camera, a laser range finder, and a sonar setup that allows for the mapping and avoidance of obstacle. In order to allow them to talk, they are also equipped with a microphone and speakers.
This video is not supported by your browser at this time.
Video showing Lingodroids playing a location language game. Schulz, R., Glover, A., Milford, M., Wyeth, G., & Wiles, J. (2011) Lingodroids: Studies in Spatial Cognition and Language, ICRA 2011, The International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Shanghai, China, May 2011
The Lingodroids develop language in the way that most human languages have probably developed, but making up words to name the places that they visit, and then share that name with the other around you. The bots basically find something that they have not seen in the past, create a word based on a random combination of syllables, and then tell the other robot the word that they have just created. Then the robots memory files will link to the word to that specific location.Currently the robots are learning new words by playing games, and can only name locations, but the researchers hope that in the future these Lingodroids will be able to create a more complex language.
More information: Research paper: Schulz, R., Wyeth, G., & Wiles, J. (In Press) Are we there yet? Grounding temporal concepts in shared journeys, IEEE Transactions on Autonomous Mental Development
More info: http://itee.uq.edu … godroids.htm
© 2010 PhysOrg.com
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May 17, 2011
Rank: 4.8 / 5 (6)
The concept of places and place marker names were already programmed into each bot, as were the general objectives. But the objective needs be expanded further to simulate any usefulness of language. 1) The language must be useful in explaining a new concept, one thing one bot figures out before the other and identifying nouns doesn't do that, and 2), even if robots have perfect recall the language needs a structure.
May 17, 2011
Rank: 4.5 / 5 (2)
"...the representation of spatial and temporal concepts."
At the most fundamental,oversimplified level, all language(for all forms of life as well as for all inanimate objects such as bots) is 'shape'.
So your requirement "language needs structure" is fulfilled.
You object:
"Shape and structure are two words which both have only one meaning"
I agree:
"Yes. And the word "meaning" is called "language."
You object:
"The definition for the word "meaning" is NOT "language".
I agree:
"Yes. "Meaning" is 'what happens' when you literally look at shape."
You object:
"What happens" is too vague. What is happening?
I agree:
"Yes. What is happening is when you look at shape, the act of looking at this shape, changes your shape (state), mutual shape change."
Any event, in which any state of that event changes mutually interactively with the state of any other event is language.
The mutual exchange of information.
New information. Created
May 17, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
May 17, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
Although you could say that because they have terms for places or things, that this is a language, it is only a language in the most basic sense.
By nature of how it is created and evolves, it is a very limited and boxed form of communication. Human 'language' consists of multiple relations and syntax. It has past present and future. Words are almost never created from "random syllables", they are created from relationships to other words - which is why you can have families of words that have similar parts.
We'll call this a baby step for now, and see how things progress. The research is definitely clever.
May 17, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
May 17, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
If I embed a map with a RANDOM grid and points onto a plane, these 'bots' are the way to go. If they arbitrarily labeled each point with "random syllables", fine. Of course "syntax" is not present here. How do I learn their language? The points on the Grid have been assign "random syllables", (or to satisfy purists, yes, elements of sets for sets of map coordinates)by them.
So here I am, in space, in our universe, with bots that have the ability to map and label all points in space. Fine.
I know there is a structure. A Plane with Grid and Points. I listen to them carefully. I hear random noise!! Their "random labeling" makes perfect sense to them! and no sense to me!! There is no way to "decipher" their true random language!
Bots will do what any self respecting human will do.
Assign an ARBITRARY unit of measure and mutually exchange units of that measure and call it communication!
May 17, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
May 18, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
I'm sure language building for people involved a few more things. Since more than one person sees the same thing, which word wins out? The strongest? The most quickly accepted?
Or what about the ease of remembering it? For something dangerous, a short loud sounding word is best.
I don't think putting together random syllables like tagging a photo on facebook can be called creating language.
May 18, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
I guess what I'm saying is that language is so much more complex. I'm betting the designers of these robots have a much grander goal and approach than this article is letting on. I think the author dumbed it down way too much. At least, I hope that's the case.
May 18, 2011
Rank: not rated yet
You deserve 10 stars for this quote. And remember folks, kill all humans.
May 18, 2011
Rank: not rated yet
For me, the 'brick wall' is the word 'meaning'.
We all know USE (mutual exchange of information) morphs meaning.
We didn't anchor and sugar coat the meaning of the word 'meaning' with nice things like invariance.
Perhaps if the authors had asserted:
If information has structure, uniqueness and language are sure to follow, as a an immutable consequence.
May 18, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
I also agree that symbols and words should not be "random," as words in real languages obey rules regarding syntax, grammar, prefixes, suffixes and other modifiers which mostly follow the same rules across the board, with the exception of a few "irregular" words, such as "deer" being both the singular and the plural form.
Words like "deer" are actually problematic, since they violate plurality rules, and therefore the exact meaning of the word can only be obtained from other words in the same sentence or following sentence. The ideal would be to produce a language in which this, "I don't know till the next phrase or sentence" problem is avoided entirely.
May 18, 2011
Rank: not rated yet
Example:
Multiple deer crossed the road.
Some deer crossed the road.
Deers crossed the road.
Sentence 2 is ambigous even with the use of the word "Some" since the word "some" is itself ambigous and could be refering to a single object or to multiple objects, i.e.
"Some guy..."
and
"Some guys..."
are both correct.
While ambiguous words are often required when knowledge itself is incomplete, or when complete knowledge is not necessary, one should still have the language designed to be as specific and efficient as possible.
Words are not simply labels for things.
Some words are clearly "function names" for a function which modifies the meaning, function, and usage of other words or phrases: articles, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions, gerunds, infinitives, etc.
Written language is nested in a way similar to the C family.
May 18, 2011
Rank: not rated yet
In C, we have punctuation and grouping symbols which are not common to ordinary written language, ":,;,<,>,{,},(,)".
Ok, we use parenthesis in ordinary writing, but not very often as compared to C. However, we do use quotes and punctuation at least once per sentence, and as often as every phrase or even every word.
",',.,?,!, etc.
In written spanish, questions and exclaimation marks are even doubled with the preceding upside down symbol, which is very, very reminiscent of the markup of C, HTML, and PHP.
?Como Estas?
<? php some code ?>
some text
Additionally, in English even though we don't write or speak such grouping symbols, they are "understood groups," such as a prepositional phrase.
Our written language is a lot more like a computer programming language than might be at first realized.
May 19, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
:)...but consider this:
A college professor wrote the words: "A woman without her man is nothing" on the chalkboard and asked his students to punctuate it correctly.
All of the males in the class wrote: "A woman, without her man, is nothing."
All the females in the class wrote: "A woman: without her, man is nothing."
May 22, 2011
Rank: not rated yet
May 23, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
That's because they were made that way, by people who wanted to have the computer understand written instructions in normal language instead of having to think everything in registers and moves.