Scientists create machine learning robot hand – Tech2

A team led by an Indian-origin computer engineer from University of Washington has built a five-fingered robotic hand that can not only perform dexterous in-hand manipulation but also learn from its own experience without depending on humans to direct it. Hand manipulation is one of the hardest problems that roboticists have to solve. "Several robots today have pretty capable arms but the hand is as simple as a suction cup or maybe a claw or a gripper," said lead author Vikash Kumar, doctoral student in computer science and engineering. The team spent years custom building one of the most highly capable five-fingered robot hands in the world. Then they developed an accurate simulation model that enables a computer to analyse movements in real time. In their latest demonstration, they apply the model to the hardware and real-world tasks like rotating an elongated object.