Vehicle routing problems and other combinatorial optimization problems have been approximately solved by reinforcement learning agents with policies based on encoder-decoder models with attention mechanisms. These techniques are of substantial interest but still cannot solve the complex routing problems that arise in a realistic setting which can have many trucks and complex requirements. With the aim of making reinforcement learning a viable technique for supply chain optimization, we develop new extensions to encoder-decoder models for vehicle routing that allow for complex supply chains using classical computing today and quantum computing in the future. We make two major generalizations. First, our model allows for routing problems with multiple trucks. Second, we move away from the simple requirement of having a truck deliver items from nodes to one special depot node, and instead allow for a complex tensor demand structure. We show how our model, even if trained only for a small number of trucks, can be embedded into a large supply chain to yield viable solutions.

Problem instances of a size suitable for practical applications are not likely to be addressed during the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) period with (almost) pure quantum algorithms. Hybrid classical-quantum algorithms have potential, however, to achieve good performance on much larger problem instances. We investigate one such hybrid algorithm on a problem of substantial importance: vehicle routing for supply chain logistics with multiple trucks and complex demand structure. We use reinforcement learning with neural networks with embedded quantum circuits. In such neural networks, projecting high-dimensional feature vectors down to smaller vectors is necessary to accommodate restrictions on the number of qubits of NISQ hardware. However, we use a multi-head attention mechanism where, even in classical machine learning, such projections are natural and desirable. We consider data from the truck routing logistics of a company in the automotive sector, and apply our methodology by decomposing into small teams of trucks, and we find results comparable to human truck assignment.

Generative models, particularly GANs, have been utilized for image editing. Although GAN-based methods perform well on generating reasonable contents aligned with the user's intentions, they struggle to strictly preserve the contents outside the editing region. To address this issue, we use diffusion models instead of GANs and propose a novel image-editing method, based on pixel-wise guidance. Specifically, we first train pixel-classifiers with few annotated data and then estimate the semantic segmentation map of a target image. Users then manipulate the map to instruct how the image is to be edited. The diffusion model generates an edited image via guidance by pixel-wise classifiers, such that the resultant image aligns with the manipulated map. As the guidance is conducted pixel-wise, the proposed method can create reasonable contents in the editing region while preserving the contents outside this region. The experimental results validate the advantages of the proposed method both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Artificial life is a research field studying what processes and properties define life, based on a multidisciplinary approach spanning the physical, natural and computational sciences. Artificial life aims to foster a comprehensive study of life beyond "life as we know it" and towards "life as it could be", with theoretical, synthetic and empirical models of the fundamental properties of living systems. While still a relatively young field, artificial life has flourished as an environment for researchers with different backgrounds, welcoming ideas and contributions from a wide range of subjects. Hybrid Life is an attempt to bring attention to some of the most recent developments within the artificial life community, rooted in more traditional artificial life studies but looking at new challenges emerging from interactions with other fields. In particular, Hybrid Life focuses on three complementary themes: 1) theories of systems and agents, 2) hybrid augmentation, with augmented architectures combining living and artificial systems, and 3) hybrid interactions among artificial and biological systems. After discussing some of the major sources of inspiration for these themes, we will focus on an overview of the works that appeared in Hybrid Life special sessions, hosted by the annual Artificial Life Conference between 2018 and 2022.

This study proposed a novel robotic gripper that can achieve grasping and infinite wrist twisting motions using a single actuator. The gripper is equipped with a differential gear mechanism that allows switching between the grasping and twisting motions according to the magnitude of the tip force applied to the finger. The grasping motion is activated when the tip force is below a set value, and the wrist twisting motion is activated when the tip force exceeds this value. "Twist grasping," a special grasping mode that allows the wrapping of a flexible thin object around the fingers of the gripper, can be achieved by the twisting motion. Twist grasping is effective for handling objects with flexible thin parts, such as laminated packaging pouches, that are difficult to grasp using conventional antipodal grasping. In this study, the gripper design is presented, and twist grasping is analyzed. The gripper performance is experimentally validated.

Robotic hands with soft surfaces can perform stable grasping, but the high friction of the soft surfaces makes it difficult to release objects, or to perform operations that require sliding. To solve this issue, we previously developed a contact area variable surface (CAVS), whose friction changed according to the load. However, only our fundamental results were previously presented, with detailed analyses not provided. In this study, we first investigated the CAVS friction anisotropy, and demonstrated that the longitudinal direction exhibited a larger ratio of friction change. Next, we proposed a sensible CAVS, capable of providing a variable-friction mechanism, and tested its sensing and control systems in operations requiring switching between sliding and stable-grasping modes. Friction sensing was performed using an embedded camera, and we developed a gripper using the sensible CAVS, considering the CAVS friction anisotropy. In CAVS, the low-friction mode corresponds to a small grasping force, while the high-friction mode corresponds to a greater grasping force. Therefore, by controlling only the friction mode, the gripper mode can be set to either the sliding or stable-grasping mode. Based on this feature, a methodology for controlling the contact mode was constructed. We demonstrated a manipulation involving sliding and stable grasping, and thus verified the efficacy of the developed sensible CAVS.

This letter proposes a novel single-fingered reconfigurable robotic gripper for grasping objects in narrow working spaces. The finger of the developed gripper realizes two configurations, namely, the insertion and grasping modes, using only a single motor. In the insertion mode, the finger assumes a thin shape such that it can insert its tip into a narrow space. The grasping mode of the finger is activated through a folding mechanism. Mode switching can be achieved in two ways: switching the mode actively by a motor, or combining passive rotation of the fingertip through contact with the support surface and active motorized construction of the claw. The latter approach is effective when it is unclear how much finger insertion is required for a specific task. The structure provides a simple control scheme. The performance of the proposed robotic gripper design and control methodology was experimentally evaluated. The minimum width of the insertion space required to grasp an object is 4 mm (1 mm, when using a strategy).

针对目标的对话任务的先前研究缺乏关键观念，该观念在以目标为导向的人工智能代理的背景下进行了深入研究。在这项研究中，我们提出了目标引导的开放域对话计划（TGCP）任务的任务，以评估神经对话代理是否具有目标对话计划的能力。使用TGCP任务，我们研究了现有检索模型和最新强生成模型的对话计划能力。实验结果揭示了当前技术面临的挑战。

我们提出了Boareskinnet，这是一种新颖的方法，可以同时去除面部图像的化妆和照明影响。我们的方法利用3D形态模型，不需要参考干净的面部图像或指定的光条件。通过结合3D面重建的过程，我们可以轻松获得3D几何和粗3D纹理。使用此信息，我们可以通过图像翻译网络推断出归一化的3D面纹理图（扩散，正常，粗糙和镜面）。因此，没有不良信息的重建3D面部纹理将显着受益于随后的过程，例如重新照明或重新制作。在实验中，我们表明Bareskinnet优于最先进的化妆方法。此外，我们的方法有助于卸妆以生成一致的高保真纹理图，这使其可扩展到许多现实的面部生成应用。它还可以在相应的3D数据之前和之后自动构建面部化妆图像的图形资产。这将有助于艺术家加速他们的作品，例如3D Makeup Avatar创作。

我们研究了从高阶图卷积中的有效学习，并直接从邻接矩阵进行节点分类学习。我们重新访问缩放的图形残留网络，并从残留层中删除Relu激活，并在每个残留层上应用一个重量矩阵。我们表明，所得模型导致新的图卷积模型作为归一化邻接矩阵，残留权重矩阵和残差缩放参数的多项式。此外，我们提出了直接绘制多项式卷积模型和直接从邻接矩阵学习的自适应学习。此外，我们提出了完全自适应模型，以学习每个残留层的缩放参数。我们表明，所提出的方法的概括界限是特征值谱，缩放参数和残留权重的上限的多项式。通过理论分析，我们认为所提出的模型可以通过限制卷积的更高端口和直接从邻接矩阵学习来获得改进的概括界限。我们使用一套真实数据，我们证明所提出的方法获得了提高的非全粒图淋巴结分类的精度。