Robot Competition Kicks Off In Osaka

TOKYO — RoboCup 2005 Osaka has kicked off in Osaka, gathering nearly 400 teams of humanoid robots from over 30 countries.This year's competition, being held July 13 through 19, has as its theme "By 2050, develop a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can win against the human world champion team in soccer." Beginning this year, the humanoid league will be upgraded from a one-on-one game style to a two-on-two team play match. Two robots are expected to play an offense and a defense in cooperation to make a goal.

The humanoid league started in 2002 as matches for autonomous biped robots. In the first year, participated humanoid robots barely walked and kicked a ball. In four years, bipedal walking is no longer a challenge and thus higher challenges are set for this year's participants.

Robotrex, an exhibition of robot technologies and products to be held on the same venue.

"It is important to stimulate industries with RoboCup. Robotrex held with RoboCup in Japan is one attempt in the direction," said Minoru Asada, professor of Osaka University, who is acting as president of the RoboCup Federation.