Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations,...

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Towards end-to-end automation of AI research.

Nature·2026

Same author

Getting robots back on track by reconstituting control in unexpected situations with online learning.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Opportunities and challenges for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity in the robotics age.

Nature ecology & evolution·2025

Same author

Managing extreme AI risks amid rapid progress.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2024

Same author

Large language models help computer programs to evolve.

Nature·2024

Same author

An embarrassingly simple approach for visual navigation of forest environments.

Frontiers in robotics and AI·2023

Same journal

Retraction Note: NSD2 targeting reverses plasticity and drug resistance in prostate cancer.

Nature·2026

Same journal

Enhanced B cell priming induces broadly neutralizing HIV-1 apex antibodies.

Nature·2026

Same journal

Vaccination elicits HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies in primates.

Nature·2026

Same journal

Child online safety needs more than social-media bans.

Nature·2026

Same journal

Ebola preparedness must start with ecosystems and before humans show symptoms.

Nature·2026

Same journal

AI tools can speed up thinking, but evidence still comes from the lab bench.

Nature·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 11, 2026

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

Published on: October 14, 2017

Robots that can adapt like animals.

Antoine Cully¹, Jeff Clune², Danesh Tarapore¹

¹1] Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Paris 06, UMR 7222, Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (ISIR), F-75005, Paris, France [2] CNRS, UMR 7222, Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique (ISIR), F-75005, Paris, France.

|May 29, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces an intelligent trial-and-error algorithm enabling robots to rapidly adapt to damage. This breakthrough allows robots to learn compensatory behaviors quickly, enhancing their robustness and autonomy in complex environments.

More Related Videos

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Published on: May 16, 2025

Insect-controlled Robot: A Mobile Robot Platform to Evaluate the Odor-tracking Capability of an Insect

Insect-controlled Robot: A Mobile Robot Platform to Evaluate the Odor-tracking Capability of an Insect

Published on: December 19, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 11, 2026

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

Published on: October 14, 2017

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

A Real-Time Interactive System for Studying Confrontational Pursuit Behavior in Rodents

Published on: May 16, 2025

Insect-controlled Robot: A Mobile Robot Platform to Evaluate the Odor-tracking Capability of an Insect

Insect-controlled Robot: A Mobile Robot Platform to Evaluate the Odor-tracking Capability of an Insect

Published on: December 19, 2016

Area of Science:

Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning

Background:

Robots offer significant societal benefits but are limited by fragility in complex environments.
Current robots lack adaptive capabilities to compensate for damage, unlike biological organisms.
Existing damage adaptation methods for robots are often slow and require extensive pre-programming.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an intelligent algorithm for rapid robot damage adaptation.
To enable robots to learn compensatory behaviors without self-diagnosis or pre-specified plans.
To reduce robot fragility and enhance their autonomy in unpredictable situations.

Main Methods:

A novel technique creates a detailed map of high-performing robot behaviors before deployment.
An intelligent trial-and-error learning algorithm utilizes this prior knowledge to guide adaptation.
The algorithm conducts rapid, intelligent experiments to discover damage-compensating behaviors.

Main Results:

Robots adapted to various injuries in under two minutes within large search spaces.
Successful adaptations were demonstrated on a legged robot with multiple leg injuries.
A robotic arm with numerous joint failures also showed successful adaptation.

Conclusions:

The new algorithm significantly enhances robot robustness and adaptability to damage.
This approach enables more effective autonomous robots for diverse applications.
The findings may offer insights into biological principles of injury adaptation.