The Importance of Deep Learning in Robotics Research

Abstract

The popularity of deep learning among roboticists is not evidence that it is a fruitful path to a greater scientific understanding into open problems in robotics. Nonetheless, I will argue that the pervasiveness of deep learning in robotics research is not an impediment to scientific insights into robotics problems, but rather leads to a probabilistic and data-driven perspective that will be essential for solving the next generation of robotics challenges.