A new research published in Nature Machine Intelligence suggests that teaching materials science, mechanical engineering, computer science, biology and chemistry as a combined discipline(综合学科) could help students develop the skills they need to create lifelike artificially intelligent(AI) robots as researchers.
Known as Physical AI, these robots will be designed to look and behave like humans or other animals. At the same time, they will own intelligence(智力) normally connected with biological organisms(生物有机体). These robots could in future help humans at work and in daily living, performing tasks that are dangerous for humans and helping with medicine, caregiving, security, building and industry.
However, today’s robots and biological beings exist separately and the intelligence of the two have not yet been combined. Co-lead author Professor Mirko Kovac said, “The development of robot ‘bodies’ has greatly fallen behind the development of robot ‘brains’. Unlike digital AI, which has been studied deeply in the last few decades, breathing physical intelligence into robots has remained relatively unexplored.”
The researchers say that the reason for this gap might be that no systematic educational method has yet been developed for teaching students and researchers to create robot bodies and brains combined as whole units.
This new research suggests a way of overcoming the gap by combining scientific disciplines to help future researchers create lifelike robots with abilities such as developing bodily control, autonomy and sensing at the same time.
Professor Kovac said, “We picture Physical AI robots being developed in the lab by using unusual materials and research methods. Cross-disciplinary cooperation and partnerships will be very important.”
The researchers also advise strengthening research activities in Physical AI by supporting teachers on both the institutional and community level. They suggest hiring and supporting university educators whose priority(重点) will be cross-disciplinary Physical AI research. “Creating lifelike robots has been an impossible task so far, but it could be made possible by including Physical AI in the high education system,” Kovac said.
We hope that the researchers’ work will encourage active discussion of the topic and will lead to combination of Physical AI disciplines in the educational mainstream. The researchers intend to carry out the Physical AI methodology in their research and education activities to help build human-robot ecosystems.
30. What do we know about Physical AI robots according to the passage?
A.They have been able to help humans at work. |
B.They will have human brains and animal bodies. |
C.They have been designed to look and act like humans. |
D.They will have intelligence connected with biological organisms. |
31. What does the underlined words “
this gap” in Paragraph 4 probably refer to?
A.Biological beings have been paid enough attention to. |
B.The robot “brains” have fallen behind the robot “bodies”. |
C.Systematic educational method hasn’t been developed by now. |
D.Physical AI hasn’t been well explored compared with digital AI. |
32. We can learn from the passage that ________.
A.intelligence is important in creating digital AI robots |
B.development in digital AI can help produce smarter robots |
C.unusual materials might be used to develop Physical AI robots |
D.we have developed lifelike robots by having Physical AI in education |
33. What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage?
A.To show the difficulties of Physical AI development and the related solutions. |
B.To call for combination of Physical AI disciplines in the education system. |
C.To explain the reason why Physical intelligence has remained unexplored. |
D.To encourage people to prepare for the age of Physical AI progress. |