"Robot Garden"... in China

“Russia Today” – A “robot kindergarten” has opened in Beijing, where researchers are exploring an alternative approach to machine learning, according to a report by the Chinese state-owned newspaper Global Times.

The newspaper noted that, instead of humans programming every movement into robots, scientists want machines to learn through trial and error based on their own experiences.

The center places strong emphasis on tactile perception and continuous learning. The newspaper stated, “If a robot bumps into a wall while learning to walk, that collision becomes part of its experience: the robot records what happened, tries again, and adjusts its movement to avoid repeating the same mistake.” It added that failure itself is transformed into data for learning.

The newspaper clarified that continuous learning means robots can continue to adapt even after they are activated, including adapting to situations not present in their initial training.

Quoting Wang Bing, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, the newspaper reported, “Self-exploration of the surrounding environment can help robots move beyond limited task-specific learning and develop a more fundamental understanding of the physical world.”