荷蘭誕生首個(gè)機(jī)器人嬰兒 機(jī)器人也可交配生子

圖中右側(cè)就是機(jī)器人父母，左側(cè)則是機(jī)器人寶寶。圖中可以看到，機(jī)器人父母分別是藍(lán)色和綠色的，機(jī)器人寶寶身上藍(lán)、綠色都有。

What if robots could evolve?

如果機(jī)器人可以自主進(jìn)化的話，那么這將會(huì)是一幅怎樣的場(chǎng)景呢?

It's the question asked by a group of scientists in Amsterdam, whose radical new project aims to create smarter, more advanced robots through a process similar to sexual reproduction.

這一問(wèn)題由阿姆斯特丹的科學(xué)家們提出，他們創(chuàng)立一項(xiàng)不同凡響的新項(xiàng)目，旨在通過(guò)類似有性生殖的過(guò)程創(chuàng)造出更智能、更先進(jìn)的機(jī)器人。

While the idea may sound far-fetched, they've already demonstrated a proof of concept – in February, two robot parents came together to 'mate,' and the first 'robot baby' was born.

雖然這一想法聽(tīng)起來(lái)有些難以置信，但是他們卻已證明其確實(shí)可行：二月，一對(duì)機(jī)器人父母通過(guò)“交配”，生下了首個(gè)“機(jī)器人寶寶”。

In the Robot Baby Project at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, scientists have developed a way for robots to have 'sex' and pass on their DNA to offspring.

在阿姆斯特丹自由大學(xué)的“機(jī)器人嬰兒項(xiàng)目”中，科學(xué)家已經(jīng)研發(fā)出一種使機(jī)器人通過(guò)“性交”而將DNA傳遞給后代的辦法。

Doing this can allow them to 'develop their bodies through evolution,' making for successive generations that have more advanced physical and behavioural capabilities.

這一做法可使機(jī)器人實(shí)現(xiàn)自我進(jìn)化發(fā)展，從而使其后代能擁有更高級(jí)先進(jìn)的身體機(jī)能和行為能力。

As the process continues, the researchers say robots can become more suitable for use in unknown environments that could be hazardous to humans, like deep sea mines or even other planets.

隨著研究推進(jìn)，研究人員認(rèn)為這些機(jī)器人更適合用在對(duì)人類有害的未知領(lǐng)域中，比如深海礦井甚至是其它星球。

'We have two robots that meet and mate, and just as in the animal kingdom, this results in a baby,' says Guszti Eiben, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at VU, in a video explaining the concept.

阿姆斯特丹自由大學(xué)的人工智能教授Guszti Eiben在一段視頻中對(duì)這一概念解釋道：“就像在動(dòng)物界里一樣，兩個(gè)機(jī)器人相見(jiàn)交配，然后就有了寶寶。”

The robots live, work, and reproduce in an 'Arena,' where they are able to select a suitable mating partner.

這些機(jī)器人在實(shí)驗(yàn)室的“人生舞臺(tái)”上生活、工作和繁殖，在那里它們可以選擇適合交配的另一半。

When the two robots come together, they are then able to communicate and even mate.

當(dāng)兩個(gè)機(jī)器人邂逅相遇，它們可以相互交流甚至交配。

'When they evaluate each other favourably, they send their genomes through the Wi-Fi network,' says Milan Jelisavcic, a PhD student at the university.

該大學(xué)的博士生Milan Jelisavcic說(shuō)：“當(dāng)它們?cè)u(píng)估對(duì)方為積極良性時(shí)，會(huì)通過(guò)Wi-Fi發(fā)送各自的基因組。”

'A sexual reproduction mechanism then creates the new genome. Code of this genome is sent to the 3D printer then, for printing new components.'

“這種有性繁殖機(jī)制能創(chuàng)造出新的基因組，然后這一基因組代碼會(huì)被發(fā)送至3D打印機(jī)上，進(jìn)而打印出機(jī)器人寶寶的組成部件。”

During a year-and-a-half development period, the researchers were able to achieve the implementation of a full life cycle.

在一年半的研發(fā)進(jìn)程中，研究人員實(shí)現(xiàn)了一個(gè)完整的生命周期測(cè)試。

When the parent robots 'reproduce,' their features are randomly recombined.

當(dāng)機(jī)器人父母“繁衍后代”時(shí)，他們的特征是隨意組合的。

This includes the brain – software – and the hardware.

這其中包括大腦(軟件)和硬件。

'With evolutionary techniques, we evolve the neural networks of the robots,' explains Jacqueline Heinerman, PhD student at VU, in the video.

視頻中，學(xué)校里的另一個(gè)博士生杰奎琳•海納曼解釋道：“隨著技術(shù)發(fā)展，我們能夠開(kāi)發(fā)機(jī)器人的神經(jīng)網(wǎng)絡(luò)。”

These neural networks are responsible for their behaviours.

這些神經(jīng)網(wǎng)絡(luò)主控機(jī)器人的行為。

The lab also contains a 'Birth Clinic' and a 'Nursery' for the robotic child, and once born, each must undergo a learning process.

研究實(shí)驗(yàn)室中還為機(jī)器人寶寶設(shè)立了“產(chǎn)房”和“育兒室”，出生后，每個(gè)機(jī)器人寶寶都必須進(jìn)行學(xué)習(xí)。

If it is deemed satisfactory, the child then becomes an adult, and potentially, a parent.

一旦它們符合條件要求，便可步入成人階段，還有可能為生育下一代做準(zhǔn)備。

Researchers say this marks the start of a new era – the Industrial Evolution.

研究人員認(rèn)為，這標(biāo)志著“工業(yè)進(jìn)化”新時(shí)代的開(kāi)始。

In this state, machines could autonomously operate and reproduce.

依此看來(lái)，機(jī)器人可以自主操作與繁殖。

One day, they say, this new form of evolution could even play a critical role in the colonization of Mars.

他們表示，終有一天，這一全新的進(jìn)化方式將在殖民火星的過(guò)程中扮演舉足輕重的作用。

Vocabulary

genomes：基因組

neural networks：神經(jīng)網(wǎng)絡(luò)