The development of a robust symbolic communication system for robots via embodied iterated imitation

Abstract

In this research, real robots are used to model the emergence and development of a symbolic communication system in a group of social agents. It is shown that as the predefined symbols of the language are transmitted among the robots, variations due to embodiment arise in the learned symbols. As a result of these variations, transmissibility of the randomly generated symbols of the language decreases. We introduce multiple cycles of iterated imitation during which the symbols of the language evolve and adapt to the uncertainties in robots’ sensors and actuators. Specific structures emerge in the learned symbols and transmissibility of the language increases. This process is proposed as a model that explains how structural syntax emerges and evolves in a symbolic communication system.