Robocup2007
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RoboCup footage roundup
With RoboCup now wrapped up for another year, we thought it'd be worth taking some time to spotlight some of the thrills and spills of this year's competition. Thankfully, there's no shortage of footage to choose from, much of which has found its way onto YouTube. While it's tough to pick a favorite, we were especially impressed with the match between the Darmstadt Dribblers and Team Nimbro, which not only featured ample amounts of hilarity, but a few actual displays of robot soccer skill (as seen above). Click on through for the complete video roundup.
RoboCup 2007: Winners roundup
Amid the oil, chips and gears of the gladiatorial sport of RoboCup, only the toughest, bravest, and those with the longest lasting batteries can emerge victorious. Like all great clashes, whether on the battlefield or on the ballfield, only one man (er, bot) can call him / her / itself a "winner." So who did win in RoboCup 2007? Well, the final standings (as detailed on the Cup's Wiki) don't exactly make for light or even sensible reading, but it appears that the foreboding yet attractive Team Osaka was beat out by Team NimbRo from the University of Freiburg in the Best Humanoid Robot event, the Tribots from the University of Osnabruck took home the middle-size league trophy, and the four-legged winners were the Nothern Bites, hailing from Bowdoin College in the US. For all the stats, you'll want to cozy up to a terminal with a nice, large cup of coffee and some serious hang time.[Via CNET]
Microscopic robots get their game on at RoboCup
Sure, witnessing the robotic incarnation of Ronaldo totally school his opponent and whip a game winner into the back corner of the net is quite impressive, but watching a nanoscale iteration attempt to do the same demands a slightly smaller (figuratively speaking, of course) level of respect for the creators. A total of five teams from North America and Switzerland built microscopic competitors that were around "six times smaller than an amoeba and weighed no more than a few hundred nanograms." The wee devices showed their stuff in the oh-so-fascinating Nano Cup soccer match, which had to be projected onto a screen in order for anyone to actually take a look at the action. Notably, several teams made mention of these diminutive creatures eventually ending up in various locales within the body, but we're sure the hardcore athletes were more focused on the final score than any future endeavours in the medical realm.
Robo Ronaldo scores midfield RoboCup goal
You've had ample time to scope out the vastness that is RoboCup 2007, but the fourth day of competition brought a little something extra in the form of an uber-talented soccer bot. The machines, which look an awful lot like those entered by Team Osaka, took to the pitch in order to give onlookers something to cheer about, and the videoed matchup between the forward and fullback captured the midfield goal perfectly. Interestingly enough, it seems that the defender either lost his footing or fell victim to a vicious headbutt to the chest, but his demise allowed the calculating shooter to line up an exquisite shot to the corner of the net. Enough color commentary, hit the read link to catch it for yourself.[Thanks, Danish K.]
Aldebaran's Nao robot makes RoboCup appearance
Aldebaran Robotics' Nao robot certainly doesn't seem to be in any rush to take over the world, but it looks like it's at least making some progress, as evidenced by its appearance at RoboCup 2007 in Atlanta this week. What's more, the company's just revealed that it's decided to give Nao some companionship, introducing a new, slightly smaller model with added sensors, eyes, and "dozens of other improvements," not to mention a spiffy new red paint job. While Aldebaran will apparently have more to say about that particular bot "in the next weeks so," you can check out a video of it in action at the link below, along with one of the older Nao walking slightly more steadily than before, though apparently still not able to muster up a kick.
The sights and sounds of RoboCup 2007
While you've already gotten a taste of the prep work involved at RoboCup 2007, we know a more multimedia-packed perspective of the gala is more likely to quench your appetite for roboto-a-roboto action. From mechanical canines bending it like Beckham to Wiimote-controlled AIBOs, Atlanta is the place to be if you're looking for all things robotic. Best of all, the gurus inside have translated their circuitry and programming skills over to the camera, and a well-stocked Flickr pool and YouTube library are already beginning to form. So go on, give the links below a gander, and be sure to check back as the week unfolds to catch even more of the madness at this year's RoboCup.Read - Northern Bites BlogRead - RoboCup 2007 Flickr poolRead - RoboCup 2007 YouTube library
RoboCup 2007: let the games begin
While we weren't able to get a first-hand glimpse of the mayhem that is RoboCup this time around, a camera-wielding Georgia Tech graduate student was able to do the honors for us all, and snagged quite a bit of impressive footage from the expo. Many of the shots were snapped during yesterday's practice rounds as competitors prepped their gear for battle (which began yesterday), and we must say that the oh-so-athletic Junior Soccer League robots are worth the price of admission alone. Still, even if witnessing robotic contention in person isn't enough to drag you to Atlanta, be sure to click through to get a glimpse of homegrown robotic innovation at its finest.
