Robot Shaping

[This] book gives a clear and comprehensive exposition of[the authors] extensive experience in integrating reinforcement learning and autonomous robotics. Their continuing contribution is to the development of a distinct engineering discipline(`Behavior engineering') through which such robots can be created. I am excited because their efforts combine some of the best theoretical ideaswith a strong eye for the practical - for what will actually work.

Stewart W. Wilson, The Rowland Institute for Science

Dorigo and Colombetti' remarkable Robot Shaping brings us ever closer to the goal of automatically teaching real robots to grapple with real environments. The authors introduce us to behavior engineering in a series of innovative experiments with simulated and real environments.

John Koza, Professor of Computer Science, Stanford University

[This] is a carefully written collection of work performed by the authors in the last half-decade. It is not only a detailed report of their novel and important experiments, but is also excellent reading for a wide audience, ranging from graduate students and researchers just entering the field…to established contributors who are interested in the details of the authors' contributions for the purposes of continuing work…A very strong, well-rounded [book].

Maja J. Mataric, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University

[This] book gives a clear and comprehensive exposition of [the authors] extensive experience in integrating reinforcement learning and autonomous robotics. Their continuing contribution is to the development of a distinct engineering discipline ('Behavior engineering') through which such robots can be created. I am excited because their efforts combine some of the best theoretical ideas—with a strong eye for the practical—for what will actually work.

Stewart W. Wilson, The Rowland Institute for Science