ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Wake-up robot problem

The wake-up robot problem is a challenge that computer scientists try to solve. It's about trying to make a robot that can wake up and begin to do different tasks. A robot must first recognize when it is time to wake up and then remember what task it is supposed to do. To do this, the robot will need to understand the time, remember its task list, and know what it needs to do each task. This can be tricky because robots don't understand time the same way humans do. They also have to be able to process what task needs to be done, in the right order. To solve this problem, computer scientists use algorithms that help the robot to think about what time it is and what needs to be done next.
Related topics others have asked about: