Direct Perception

Our first design principle is “Favor direct control links from perception to action.” The more usual jargon is “direct perception”, but I (Brian Marick) found that not helpful as I tried to understand. “Direct control link” is from Ron McClamrock, who describes how flies launch themselves into the air thusly: […] podcast (7:28)

The show notes link to a video that shows a passive walking robot that looks like a metal model of a human from the waist down. Once started, it can walk on a treadmill forever, powered only by a slight downward slope. Nothing controls it but its construction.

The robot is walking on a treadmill and it is powered only by the energy from its position. The robot is made of aluminum, and the length and weight of the thighs and shoulders are adjusted to fit the body of a person. "We believe that this robot can be used to help people who have difficulty in walking and need nursing care. We are currently working on a prototype that will be ready for practical use in another year or two."

This is obviously(?) wrong, because in order for the statement "Nothing controls it but its construction." to appear true, the hand with the white glove in the background would have to be actively faded out. Perception is not aware of its Blind Spot. post

@rgb You’re right. post Though I (Brian Marick) do wonder if that intelligent being with the white gloves is acting as anything more than a direct control link: “see a movement that affords correction -> execute correction” Something like the reaction to “I touched a hot stove!”, where the instruction to react: “pull your finger away!” is done by the spinal cord, which also happens to send a bit of info to the brain that makes you say “ouch!” post