Early mobile robotics at SRI International: under Nils Nilsson’s leadership, what was the name of the pioneering mobile robot platform that integrated perception, planning, and navigation?

Introduction / Context:
Shakey, developed at SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute) in the late 1960s and early 1970s, is a landmark in mobile robotics. The project, guided by prominent researchers including Nils Nilsson, integrated computer vision, planning, and navigation, demonstrating that a robot could reason about its actions in a constrained environment. Recognizing Shakey situates modern robotics in its historical lineage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We seek the SRI robot associated with Nilsson's team.
• The robot is historically known for combining AI planning (STRIPS), perception, and movement.
• Names listed include distractors unrelated to SRI's mobile robot.

Concept / Approach:

Shakey was the first mobile robot to reason about its own actions via symbolic planning, using camera and range sensors to build a simplified world model and execute plans. Its software introduced techniques—such as the STRIPS planner—that shaped AI planning research for decades and inspired subsequent autonomous systems.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Museum exhibits and academic retrospectives consistently feature Shakey as the pioneering SRI mobile robot, reinforcing the connection with Nilsson's leadership.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Robitics: Not a recognized robot; appears to be a misspelling or distractor.

Dedalus/Vax: Not SRI's mobile robot; unrelated names in this context.

None: Incorrect because Shakey is the canonical answer.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing Shakey with later robots or conflating planning systems (STRIPS) with the robot's name.

Final Answer:

Shakey