IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2023 - 160

TC S P O T L I G H T
The Present and the Future
of Cognitive Robotics
By Alessandra Sciutti , Michael Beetz , Tetsunari Inamura ,
Ayorkor Korsah, Jean Oh , Giulio Sandini , Shingo Shimoda ,
and David Vernon
There is an increasing demand for
robots capable of safely interacting with
individuals in everyday scenarios. This
necessitates their ability to comprehend
human behavior, predict future actions,
and respond accordingly. This is precisely
the focus of the field known as
cognitive robotics. Cognitive robots can
learn from experience and others, retain
and retrieve relevant knowledge and
skills, and employ this knowledge to
make informed decisions while considering
the consequences. They can reason
about their actions and modify their
behavior to improve their effectiveness.
In short, cognitive robots are capable of
flexible, context-sensitive action, knowing
what they are doing and why they
are doing it [1].
The potential application of cognitive
robotics can be seen in all of the
fields where effective interaction with the
environment and natural human-robot
collaboration are needed. The ability to
learn from experience, anticipate the consequences
of the robot's and the others'
actions, and generalize already acquired
concepts are, in fact, the basis of successful
interaction with humans (Figure 1).
Another potential application of cognitive
robotics is robot manipulation in everyday
activities (Figure 2), where cognition
would, for instance, grant the possibility
to assign a task to the robot in the same
terms we would use for a human partner,
conveying just the essence of the goal
without having to specify exactly how
that task is to be carried out.
Overall, cognitive robotics has the potential
to revolutionize various industries and
improve our daily lives by creating intelligent
machines that can perceive, learn,
reason, and interact with us in safe and
helpful ways (Figure 3). This could lead
to advances in health care by providing
personalized assistance and enhancing
manufacturing processes, search-andrescue
operations, and education.
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society
(RAS) Technical Committee for
Cognitive Robotics (TC-CoRo) was established
in 2014 to advance the field of cognitive
robotics and solidify its significance.
This committee aims to bridge robotics,
cognitive science, artificial intelligence
(AI), medicine, and human sciences. It
promotes methodologies and tools necessary
for cognitive robotics, emphasizing
industrial and social applicability.
TC-CoRo is currently cochaired by five
researchers and three emeritus cochairs
from different regions of the world, genders,
and seniorities. The committee
members engage in invited talks, journal
editorial boards, and conference program
committees to promote cognitive
robotics and strengthen the community.
FIGURE 1. The robot understands the
need of the human partner (i.e., finding
her ringing mobile phone), anticipates
her request for help, and selects the most
appropriate way to support her by using
intuitive communication to direct her
attention to the desired object. (Source:
Photo by Laura Taverna, IIT; used with
permission.)
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MRA.2023.3293303
Date of current version: 11 September 2023
160
FIGURE 2. The robot understands the
object's physical properties and selects
the most appropriate kinematics and
manipulation action. Details are provided
in [5]. (Source: Photo by Linda Lastrico,
IIT; used with permission.)
IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2023
FIGURE 3. The robot safely coordinates
with the partner in an interaction involving
an exchange of forces and tool use.
(Source: Photo by Laura Taverna, IIT; used
with permission.)
1070-9932/23©2023IEEE

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IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2023