Efficient template-based path imitation by invariant feature mapping

We propose a novel approach for robot movement imitation that is suitable for robotic arm movement in tasks such as reaching and grasping. This algorithm selects a previously observed path demonstrated by an agent and generates a path in a novel situation based on pairwise mapping of invariant feature locations present in both the demonstrated and the new scenes using minimum distortion and minimum energy strategies. This One-Shot Learning algorithm is capable of not only mapping simple point-to-point paths but also adapting to more complex tasks such as involvement of forced waypoints. As compared to traditional methodologies, our work does not require extensive training for generalisation as well as expensive run-time computation for accuracy. Cross-validation statistics of grasping experiments show great similarity between the paths produced by human subjects and the proposed algorithm.