Latent Predictive Models & Godot: A New Path to Safer Robots That Choose Better Actions

There are multiple ways to integrate Latent Predictive Models (LPMs) with Godot (or any lightweight simulator). For example, you can build a decision layer that dynamically chooses whether LPM or Godot should evaluate the next action based on accuracy, latency, or compute constraints.

This post focuses on one of the most impactful approaches: leveraging both systems together to maximize action-selection quality and significantly enhance the safety of robotic behaviour. Two complementary technologies now make this possible:

LPM - Latent Predictive Model Learning for Safe Action Evaluation

LPM trains robots to predict the consequences of an action in latent space instead of raw pixels. This means a robot can internally simulate what will happen before it moves.

LPM benefits for robot safety & decision-making:

• Predicts next semantic state of the world

• Detects dangerous or unstable outcomes internally

• Enables long-horizon reasoning without heavy computation

• Supports “mental rehearsal” of multiple actions in parallel

• Reduces trial-and-error risks in the physical world

• Scales from small robots to complex multi-sensor systems

LPM becomes the robot’s risk-aware predictive mind.

Godot - A Fast, Safe Environment for Action Testing

Godot provides a controllable, physics-accurate environment where robots can test actions safely, validate predictions, and refine strategies without damaging hardware.

Godot benefits for safe robotics:

• Simulates edge cases and rare failure scenarios

• Provides controlled lighting, materials, and sensor noise

• Rapidly evaluates the safety of a given action

• Allows unlimited rehearsal without physical wear

• Supports multi-robot and multi-sensor setups

• Fully scriptable and lightweight

Godot becomes the robot’s safe experimentation world.

LPM & Godot = A Robotic Imagination Engine Focused on Safety

The magic happens when both systems are combined:

LPM = predicts outcomes

Godot = validates them safely

Together, they create an Imagination Engine for robots that enables:

• Safer decision-making by filtering unsafe actions internally

• Best-action selection through imagined rollouts

• Long-horizon planning using latent dynamics

• Reduced real-world risk, especially in manipulation tasks

• Closed-loop improvement: predict → simulate → evaluate → act

• Massive reduction in dangerous trial-and-error on real hardware

This synergy allows robots to imagine thousands of possibilities, discard bad or unsafe ones, and execute only the highest-value, safest action.

The Next Step in Robotics: Decisions Made in Imagination, not in the Real World

LPM gives robots the ability to imagine the future. Godot gives them a safe place to test those imagined futures.

Combined, they form a practical foundation for safer, smarter, self-improving robots capable of choosing optimal actions, before ever touching the physical world.