Learning Motion Skills with Adaptive Assistive Curriculum Force in Humanoid Robots

Cao, Zhanxiang, Zhang, Yang, Nie, Buqing, Lin, Huangxuan, Li, Haoyang, Gao, Yue

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence 

A key challenge in this domain is the balance between exploration and exploitation, which often results in slow learning and suboptimal performance [10], [11]. These limitations highlight the need for more effective learning strategies that can improve both the speed and performance of skill acquisition, especially for high-dimensional humanoid control tasks. During human development, external assistance plays a crucial role in learning motion skills [12]. Infants, for example, often rely on parental support during their first steps, with walkers or direct physical assistance to help them gain the confidence and balance needed for independent locomotion [13], [14]. Similarly, in the case of highly complexmovementslikebackflips,experiencedcoachesprovide physical guidance, supporting the learner's back and applying upward forces to prevent falls and promote proper technique [15]. Studies indicate that such external aids not only expedite the learning process but also help prevent learners from adopting ineffective or unsafe strategies [16].