Application of Neural ODE with embedded hybrid method for robotic manipulator control

The paper presents an approach to machine learning involving the use of a hybrid method in Neural ODE. The authors consider a way of the Neural ODE application with an embedded hybrid method for intelligent manipulator control in a non-deterministic environment. To reduce computational resources, the number of layers of the neural network using ODE is reduced, the solution of which is carried out by a hybrid transformation method. The hybrid method includes normalizing the system, linear transformation, and polynomial transformation. Using the hybrid method in Neural ODE can increase the learning and computation speed. The transformation method has high accuracy with low computational complexity of the algorithm. As a result of applying the hybrid method, the original nonlinear system is transformed to a simpler form. To solve the simplified transformed system, the scheme of the numerical Runge-Kutta method of the third order with an adaptive step is used. The results of the computational experiment show an increase in the speed and accuracy of the calculation. The presented approach to implementing the hybrid method in Neural ODE allows faster training of the neural network of the world model on limited data obtained from the real environment. After training on the data generated by the model of the world, a robotic arm always successfully reaches the object during subsequent interaction with the real environment. This solves the problem of the limited ability of the agent to interact when learning with the real environment in robotic systems. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.