idea: Cortex OS: An Operating System for Embodied Intelligence

[selim1903]

Problem Statement

Overview
Cortex OS is a middleware framework that serves as the operating system for embodied intelligence. It transforms natural language commands entered via Jan into coordinated actions by orchestrating specialized AI agents (for language, vision, spatial reasoning, etc.). Cortex OS abstracts the complexity of AI models and hardware interfaces, enabling rapid development on both simulated and physical robot platforms.

System Architecture

┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│         High-Level Applications            │
│  (Jan: Natural Language UI, Task Planner)    │
└────────────────────────────┬───────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│        Agent/Process Manager               │
│  (Task Decomposition, LLM-driven Planning,   │
│         IPC & State Management)            │
└────────────────────────────┬───────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│      AI Model Abstraction Layer            │
│ (Unified APIs for Vision, Language, Spatial) │
└────────────────────────────┬───────────────┘
                           │
                           ▼
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Environment Interface Abstraction Layer   │
│ (Sensor Data, Actuation Commands, Data I/O)  │
└────────────────────────────┬───────────────┘
                           │
               ┌───────────┴─────────────┐
               │                         │
               ▼                         ▼
┌────────────────────────────┐   ┌────────────────────────────┐
│  Physical Robot Control    │   │   Simulation Environment   │
│ (Hardware API Integration) │   │ (MuJoCo, Isaac Sim, etc.)    │
└────────────────────────────┘   └────────────────────────────┘

Component Breakdown

High-Level Applications (Jan):
Jan is our intuitive chat interface where users issue natural language commands (e.g., “pick up the cup”) and receive real-time feedback.

Agent/Process Manager:
This core engine interprets commands using LLMs, decomposes them into subtasks, and orchestrates the execution across various AI agents. It also handles inter-module communication and maintains state.

AI Model Abstraction Layer:
Provides a standardized interface to integrate diverse foundation models. This layer supports both on-device optimized models and remote/cloud-based services, making it easy to swap or update components.

Environment Interface Abstraction Layer:
Translates sensor inputs and high-level commands into standardized data and actuation signals. This ensures that whether in simulation or on a real robot, the same high-level logic is executed reliably.

Environment Adapters:
For physical deployment, this layer connects directly to hardware APIs. In simulation, engines like MuJoCo or Isaac Sim emulate realistic physics and sensor feedback.

Final Concept
Cortex OS is the “brain” for robots—taking human commands through Jan, decomposing them with LLM-driven orchestration, and leveraging specialized AI agents to generate and execute high-level actions. By abstracting both AI model complexity and hardware/simulation interfaces, Cortex OS provides a scalable and flexible solution for embodied intelligence, enabling our startup to move quickly from simulation to physical deployment.

Feature Idea

Final Concept
Cortex OS is the “brain” for robots—taking human commands through Jan, decomposing them with LLM-driven orchestration, and leveraging specialized AI agents to generate and execute high-level actions. By abstracting both AI model complexity and hardware/simulation interfaces, Cortex OS provides a scalable and flexible solution for embodied intelligence, enabling our startup to move quickly from simulation to physical deployment.