The Playful Machine

Exploring the concept of playful learning, the book introduces "homeokinesis," a principle that fosters a dynamic relationship between a robot's brain, body, and environment. It illustrates how robots can develop complex behaviors through play, similar to children and animals. Examples include a dog-like robot overcoming obstacles and a snakebot mastering movement patterns. Additionally, it presents guided self-organization, a method designed to enhance the robots' abilities to perform tasks in real-world scenarios, paving the way for autonomous companions.