aiqbench analysis
This research proposes encoding data directly into the motion trajectories of robots, creating a robust physical communication channel that operates independently of wireless networks. By treating message content as controlled noise in pre-trained robot policies, the method enables multi-agent coordination without requiring additional hardware or direct links. The study validates this approach on real-world deployments, demonstrating the feasibility of transmitting short payloads through articulated movement alone.
Remotely Detectable Keyed Communication through Motion
arXiv:2609.08920v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Messages from electronic devices are conventionally received as text, audio, or radio signals. But robots move with rich, articulate motion in the real world, opening up the possibility of transmitting messages through motion itself. In this paper, we consider the problem of motion-based communication, where we seek to modify a robot's movements so as to transmit messages detectable from remote sensing (e.g., video or motion capture), without degrading policy performance. We introduce a method for messaging through motion capable of encoding arbitrary message content over short payloads - such as an agent's current intent - as noise in any pre-trained policy's actions. This brings a new kind of robustness to robot communication: this 'physical' channel complements standard wireless communications channels but does not depend on them, requiring no extra hardware nor the establishment of a direct link to the robot. We systematically characterize the space of encoding schemes and derive design heuristics, then validate them across simulated environments and real-robot deployment; on real robots running at 50 Hz, four robots jointly recover an 8-bit message at an aggregate 0.67 bits/s.
Abstract:Messages from electronic devices are conventionally received as text, audio, or radio signals. But robots move with rich, articulate motion in the real world, opening up the possibility of transmitting messages through motion itself. In this paper, we consider the problem of motion-based communication, where we seek to modify a robot's movements so as to transmit messages detectable from remote sensing (e.g., video or motion capture), without degrading policy performance. We introduce a method for messaging through motion capable of encoding arbitrary message content over short payloads - such as an agent's current intent - as noise in any pre-trained policy's actions. This brings a new kind of robustness to robot communication: this 'physical' channel complements standard wireless communications channels but does not depend on them, requiring no extra hardware nor the establishment of a direct link to the robot. We systematically characterize the space of encoding schemes and derive design heuristics, then validate them across simulated environments and real-robot deployment; on real robots running at 50 Hz, four robots jointly recover an 8-bit message at an aggregate 0.67 bits/s.
Robotics (cs.RO)
arXiv:2609.08920 [cs.RO]
(or arXiv:2609.08920v1 [cs.RO] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.08920 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
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