C.A.R.L. is a new "emotional" robot being studied at the Cognitive Robotics Lab at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).

Part of the Cognitive Science Department at UCI, the Cognitive Robotics Lab uses biological research and theories about how the brain works to create functional computer models that are then "embodied" in the C.A.R.L. platform. Current work is focused on the effects of neuromodulators (such as serotonin and dopamine) on learning complex behaviors, and changing behavior based on context. As others have put it, "behavioral complexity is partly due to the diversity and intensity of neuromodulation and hence depends on emotional contexts".

Using his brain-based simulation, C.A.R.L. has explored his environment and learned to associate "bad" things (in this case, red-lighted tiles) with his "danger" or "flee" emotion, and "good" things (green-lighted tiles) with his "wanting" emotion. Learning is un-supervised and based only on C.A.R.L.'s real-world experience. (Video below.)

SPECIFICATIONS:

MOTORS: Pittman 24V w/ encoders for dead-reconing.
BATTERIES: Dual Panasonic NiMH 4200mAHr 24V packs.
CONTROLLER: Sabertooth Dual 10A w/ Serial-to-PWM.
TELEMETRY: SENA WiFi serial adaptor.
NETWORK: CAN protocol w/ custom CAN-Serial adaptor.
SENSORS: Sharp IR array, whiskers, compass, CCD camera.
NEURAL NET: 30k neurons, 2M connections on PowerMac.
COMPUTER VISION: OpenCV based histogram filtering.

C.A.R.L. is based on a Mini-Nomad platform, designed and built by The Machine Lab, Fort Collins, CO.

The Machine Lab (TML) specializes in customized robotic platforms for research and military applications.

This project was featured on the Discovery Channel's "Daily Planet" in April of 2010.

The producers of the show did a great job of presenting this complex research in a very accessable way. Here is a short clip from the show.