Robotics × reinforcement learning
Teach a robot to walk with AI.
Most robotics classes teach you to code a robot. Here you train one. Your AI learns to walk in a simulator, using the same method robotics labs use.
Runs in your browser · No robot needed · No coding experience
How you train a duckling
The sim-to-real method robotics labs use, in four stages. The course starts in simulation, so you can begin today without a robot.
- 01
Build the sim
Load a physics model of the robot and get to know its 14 motors.
- 02
Train with RL
Reward the AI for walking. Thousands of ducks practise at once on a free cloud GPU.
- 03
Build or buy the robot later
Assemble the duck yourself or start with one already built.
- 04
Sim to real later
Move your trained policy onto the robot and watch it take its first real steps.
The online course
Sold in packs of two modules, so you can start small and keep going at your own pace.
Pack 1 · Train a robot duck to walk
- Module 1 · Meet your duckLoad the duck into a physics simulator, explore its motors, and make it sit, stand and look around. About 15 minutes.
- Module 2 · How AI learns to walkRun a real reinforcement-learning session and watch your duck go from collapsing to walking. About 25 minutes.
You need Chrome and a free Google account. Everything runs in Google Colab.
US$29one-off payment
Start Pack 1 · US$29Pack 2
Longer training for a smooth, confident walk. US$29, sold separately.
Pack 1 buyers hear first when it's ready.
Hi, I'm Jasmine.
I'm a software engineer and IT consultant based in Johannesburg, now working in AWS, Python and AI. I built AI Duckling Lab because South African learners have no local way to see how AI trains real robots.
Everything here is built on open-source robotics tools, so what you learn carries over to real research and industry work.
Workshops and robot kits
A hands-on holiday workshop in Johannesburg and real duck robots are coming. Leave your details and I'll email you when dates and kits are ready. The online course is available now.
You're on the list.
Thanks! I'll email you when workshop dates and robot kits are ready.