Run For The Hills Or The TV?: Robot Soccer Players To Compete With Humans By 2050
The Robocup German Open is in full effect (April 21-25) and it's every bit as frightening as you'd expect. The only thing I found comfort in was that the robots are clearly too stupid to distinguish a soccer ball from an orange tennis ball. Those stupid bastards. We're still doomed though. According to Stefan Kohlbrecher, a member of the Technical University of Darmstadt's Darmstadt Dribblers, "The goal of the RoboCup is to compete against human world champions with robots by the year 2050." Uh oh. No word on whether the robots will be equipped with rockets and laser cannons, but as far as ratings go, I think it's a no-brainer.
Two videos from the 2007 cup after the jump -- one teaser trailer, and one of the final match in the humanoid division.
Robotic soccer players seek to challenge humans by 2050 [engadget]
Thanks to Shawn, who once built a robot that could play badminton, for the tip
-
Castrol, best known for keeping my ride lubed (double entendre!), went and created a robot to kick the everliving shit out of a soccer ball? Why? Cause they're a bunch of jerks. Is there no end to the effort a company will expend on a promotional stunt? Deemed unsafe for tra... / Continue →
-
How many times do I have to emphasize that I am not kidding about a robot apocalypse? Did the Terminator series teach us nothing besides Arnold Schwarzenegger should run for governor? Now, in a recent report by the US Navy, it has been suggested that robots participating in b... / Continue →
-
IT'S A TRAP! KILL THEM BOTH AND CHECK THE BODIES AFTER! Hint: they say the eyes are the window to one's soul. And robots, as we all know, are soulless death machines. Which One is the Robot? [gizmodo] Thanks to 42 y/o undead warlock, who blasted them both with Magic Missil... / Continue →
