About Freek Stulp
Freek Stulp has headed the Department of Cognitive Robotics at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) since 2016. Among other things, the department focusses on how robots represent their abilities and the world around them and how they can quickly learn new skills from humans.
He originally studied biology and cognitive science and specialised in robotics at the end of his studies. Since Freek Stulp started programming robots, he has developed a great respect for how naturally people manage in everyday life. It cycles effortlessly, tells a joke on the side and - without thinking - operates a sticking gear shift.
There is still a great deal of research and work to be done before robotics and artificial intelligence are ready to perform tasks as a matter of course - let alone cope effortlessly with unexpected events! Fortunately, robots can already provide us humans with useful support, for example when exploring space or providing care.
In Freek's research, the focus is always on intelligent behaviour: Robots should move sensibly and smoothly and plan purposefully. However, whether robots that behave intelligently are actually (artificially) intelligent is an interesting debate for Freek and his colleagues at the end of the day.