Abstract: This invention presents a new kind of robots that learn in real-time, on the fly, without a need for either annotation of sensed images or annotation of motor images. Therefore, during the process of learning, such annotation-free robots are always conscious throughout its lifetime. This invention grew from the prior art called Developmental Networks that has already supported by its Emergent Turing Machine under-pinning and the maximum-likelihood property. These key properties make it practical to close the loop—from 3D world to 2D sensory images and motor images and back to 3D world. This invention seems to be the first algorithmic-level, holistic, and neural network model for developing machine consciousness. Furthermore, this model is through conscious learning and freedom from annotations of sensory images and motor images. This invention appears to be also the first to model animal-like discovery through general-purpose imitation.

Abstract: The term instantaneous in this invention means that the roughly 180° horizontal visual field of view that a human senses in real time. The major novelty of the instantaneous 180° (i180°) 3D technology includes (a) a combination of multiple binocular and monocular fields of view for image acquisition, (b) a combination of binocular and monocular fields of view in content playback, (c) a multi-resolution scheme for sensing, processing, transmission, and playback, (d) a realization of physical consistency of the line of sight with minimal distortion of all projection lines between imaging and display, and (e) a method for two-way compatibility for systems with conventional binocular 3D and monocular 2D systems. In addition to applications in consumer electronics, the invention has potential applications in professional business, such as film industry, theaters, museums, advertisements, surgery, rehabilitation, and assistance to the handicapped and elderly.