First off, let’s define what an “embodied agent” is. It’s basically a robot or AI system that can physically interact with its environment in order to complete tasks. Think of it like a humanoid robot that can pick up objects, open doors, and navigate through spaces. Now, imagine trying to measure how well these robots perform at everyday tasks things like making coffee, folding laundry, or even just walking down the street without bumping into anything.

That’s where benchmarking comes in! Benchmarks are standardized tests that allow us to compare different embodied agents and see which ones perform best. But here’s the catch creating a good benchmark is not easy, especially when it comes to everyday tasks. For example, how do you measure something as subjective as “making coffee”? Do you look at the taste of the final product? The speed with which it was made? Or maybe the amount of noise and mess created during the process?

To make matters worse, there are so many different types of embodied agents out there from simple robots that can only move in a straight line to more complex systems that can learn and adapt on their own. So how do you create a benchmark that’s fair for all these different agents? And what criteria should we use to judge them?

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular benchmarks out there and see just how ridiculous they can be. First up is the “Coffee Making Challenge”, which involves having an embodied agent make coffee using only basic kitchen tools (like a pot, a stove, and a mug). The catch? They have to do it in under 5 minutes without spilling any water or burning anything! Sounds easy enough, right?

But wait there’s more! In addition to the Coffee Making Challenge, we also have the “Laundry Folding Task”, which involves having an embodied agent fold a pile of laundry using only their hands and some basic instructions. The catch? They have to do it in under 10 minutes without wrinkling anything or leaving any clothes on the floor! And if that wasn’t enough, we also have the “Walking Down the Street Challenge”, which involves having an embodied agent navigate through a crowded city street using only their own two feet. The catch? They can’t bump into anyone else and they have to do it in under 5 minutes without getting lost!

Now, you might be wondering why bother with all these ridiculous benchmarks? Well, the answer is simple: because we need a way to compare different embodied agents and see which ones are best at everyday tasks. And while some of these challenges may seem silly or impractical, they actually provide valuable insights into how robots can learn and adapt in real-world environments.

It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth the effort if we want to create a world where robots can help us with our daily routines without getting in our way or causing any accidents. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll even have robots that can make coffee as good (or better) than your favorite barista!