Robotics Sees the Return of RL with Sub-$500 Training Toys
animesh_garg · x · 2026-09-01
Georgia Tech Prof. Animesh Garg predicts the next two years of robotics will mark "the return of RL" as the field shifts from data collection to learning.
He outlines two key pillars:
- Environment Representation: Debating whether inputs should be objects, latent, or processed via VLMs/LLMs.
- World Models: Using world/critic/reward models to provide strong priors.
Garg also highlights the emergence of platforms like "microduck," enabling high-school students to experiment with cutting-edge RL for robotics using toys costing under $500.
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