Part 3: Advanced Concepts – Navigation, Manipulation, Emotions, and More

In the last part of the book, we tackle more advanced topics including AI-based navigation and obstacle avoidance. We learn about decision trees and classification algorithms for unsupervised learning and then start an exciting chapter on creating a simulation of a robot personality. While we can’t give a robot real emotions, we can create a simulation of emotion using state machines and Monte Carlo techniques. Finally, we end the book with a discussion of AI philosophy and a look at the future from the author’s perspective, and provide advice for people wanting to pursue robotics and autonomy as a career.

This part has the following chapters:

• Chapter 7, Teaching the Robot to Navigate and Avoid Stairs
• Chapter 8, Putting Things Away
• Chapter 9, Giving the Robot an Artificial Personality
• Chapter 10, Conclusions and Reflections