An experiment in Internet-based, human-assisted robotics

Describes an experimental exploration in Internet-based control of robots. The motivation of this work is that Internet communications can be exploited to achieve greater productivity from machines with local intelligence. Local intelligent systems contact human experts to solicit advice when a problem facing the machine is beyond its cognitive capabilities. This topic is explored in the context of a robot performing a sample domestic task (sorting laundry). An experimental system was constructed that has limited autonomous competence, but which proved to be significantly more productive through the use of occasional Internet-based human supervision.