Training robots to execute actions in physics-based virtual environment

A method for training a robot to execute a task in a physics-based simulated environment, the method comprising:

• determining, by a processor, a physically plausible virtual environment for a simulated robot;
• receiving, by the processor, task data;
• based on the task data, creating, by the processor, a plurality of plausible tests for at least one robot control program, the plurality of plausible tests being designed to execute at least one task associated with the task data;
• defining, by the processor, test parameters for each of the plurality of plausible tests;
• executing, by a robot controller, the plurality of plausible tests substantially simultaneously on the simulated robot;
• analyzing, by the robot controller, test results of the execution to select an optimized robot control program from the at least one robot control program;
• based on the analysis, selectively optimizing, by the robot controller, a plausible test associated with the optimized robot control program;
• and
• executing, by a physical robot, the plausible test upon running the optimized robot control program on the robot controller.

A system for training a simulated robot to execute tasks in a physics-based simulated environment, the system including:

• a physically plausible virtual runtime environment to simulate a real environment for the simulated robot;
• a human-machine interface (HMI) operable to receive task data, the HMI being operable to receive commands using at least one of the following:
• a text, a voice, and a gesture;
• a processor configured to:
• create a plurality of plausible tests based on the task data for at least one robot control program, the plurality of plausible tests being designed to execute at least one task associated with the task data, wherein the plurality of plausible tests includes at least one of the following:
• tests of the same scenario for different control programs, tests of different scenarios for the same control program, and tests of the same scenario with different test parameters;
• define test parameters for each of the plurality of plausible tests;
• a robot controller configured to:
• execute the plurality of plausible tests substantially simultaneously on the simulated robot;
• analyze test results of the execution to select an optimized robot control program from the at least one robot control program;
• and
• based on the analysis, selectively optimize a plausible test associated with the optimized robot control program, the selective optimization including classifying the results of execution into categories, and modifying results of execution based on the categories including, wherein the categories include at least one of the following:
• a success, a fail, a partial success, and a near success, wherein the success is based on meeting at least one of the following criteria:
• spatial, temporal, and logical;
• and
• a physical robot configured to execute the plausible test upon running the optimized robot control program on the robot controller.