The last meter is the hard part
Why moving an idea into the physical world changes the shape of the problem.
Intelligence in motion.
Leaving the screen
A robot has to meet the world where it is. Objects vary, spaces change, and a successful action has physical consequences. This makes embodiment a useful test of how much context a system really understands.
The challenge is not only choosing an action. It is sensing the result, adapting to uncertainty, and remaining useful over repeated attempts.
Design for the whole job
A machine can perform an impressive movement without completing a useful job. The surrounding steps—setup, recovery, maintenance, and coordination with people—determine whether that movement becomes a dependable service.
For analysis, the right unit may be the complete workflow. That framing puts an elegant demonstration and a less spectacular but repeatable deployment on different footing.
A working question
Where can a constrained environment make a difficult general problem tractable? The answer might be found in the shape of the workspace as much as in the sophistication of the model.
Progress can come from changing the environment, the machine, or the division of labor. It is worth keeping all three in view.
This is an illustrative essay written for the website design preview.
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