MIT Professor Pushes Robots to Think More Like Humans

MIT professor Luca Carlone works to help robots understand their surroundings as well as people do.

His team at MIT's SPARK Lab develops ways for robots to interpret objects and their relationships in any setting.

The research could improve robots that help in rescue operations, drone deliveries, and self-driving cars.

Robots already spot objects well but struggle to understand how things relate to each other.

Carlone wants robots to work naturally in homes and offices by better understanding their environment.

The Italian-born professor found his path to robotics while studying in Turin.

He later solved a key problem in robot navigation during his PhD work, helping robots create better maps.

His interest in robot vision grew stronger after experiencing temporary vision problems himself.

Now at MIT, Carlone shares his work openly with other researchers to speed up progress.

His team's discoveries could make robots safer and more useful in daily life.

The research shows how robots might one day understand the world more like humans do.