Embodiment — simple explanation

Embodiment means that an agent's body (shape, sensors, actuators, dynamics) fundamentally shapes what it can perceive and do. In other words: intelligence arises through the interaction of brain, body, and environment — not from computation alone.

Short examples:

Wheels vs legs: different bodies enable different movements and require different control strategies.
Passive compliance (like springs) can simplify control by absorbing shocks.
Sim-to-real gap: physical details of a body make transferring from simulation to real hardware challenging.

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Learning: Embodied AI