Reciprocal Learning for Robot Peers

This paper proposes a robot peer reciprocal learning system in which robot peers can not only cooperatively accomplish a difficult task but also help each other to learn better. In this system, each robot is an independent individual and has the ability to make individual decisions. They can communicate about image information, individual decisions, and current state to formulate mutual decisions and motions. For learning a new concept, we propose a mutual learning method, which allows the robots to learn from each other by exchanging weights in their neural network concept learning system. The simulation results show that the robots can learn from each other to build general concepts from limited training, while improving both of their performances at the same time. Finally, we design two cooperative tasks, which require the robots to formulate mutual sequential motions and keep communicating to manage their motions. The robotic experiments demonstrate that the proposed robot peer reciprocal learning system can help robots achieve difficult tasks in appropriate and cooperative ways, just as humans do.