New York, United States - February 25, 2025 Robots can now figure out how their own bodies work just by watching themselves move with a camera, a new study from Columbia Engineering shows. This trick lets them keep going even if they get damaged. "Think of it like a person learning to dance by looking in a mirror," says Yuhang Hu, a student researcher at Columbia University’s Creative Machines Lab, led by Professor Hod Lipson. "We want robots to understand themselves, adapt to problems, and learn new things without humans always telling them what to do." Normally, robots practice moving in computer simulations before trying it in the real world. “A good simulation makes it easier for them to switch to reality,” Lipson explains. But making those simulations takes a lot of work from skilled people. The Columbia team found an easier way: let the robot watch its own movements with a camera and build its own simulation. “This saves time and lets the robot keep updating itself as it gets worn out or hurt,” Lipson says. In the study, the researchers used a regular camera and smart computer programs to help robots map out their own 3D shapes. These programs, inspired by how the human brain works, turn 2D video of the robot’s movements into a 3D understanding. If a robot’s arm bends or breaks, it can spot the change, adjust how it moves, and keep working. This could be a big help in everyday life. “Picture a robot vacuum that bumps into a table and bends its arm,” Hu says. “Instead of stopping, it watches its own moves, fixes how it works, and keeps cleaning. No need for repairs or resets!” [Credit: Jane Nisselson/Creative Machines Lab/Columbia Engineering]