Combat robots wow crowds
17:00 16 August 04
NewScientist.com news service
A robot fighting contest that draws huge crowds in Japan each year has
highlighted sophisticated technological trends in robotics, experts say.
The 2004 Robo-One contest, held in Kawasaki, central Japan on 8 August,
drew hundreds of spectators. The event is inspired by the sport K-1,
a combination of kick-boxing other martial arts that is popular in Japan.
But the contestants are remote controlled robots constructed and operated
by robotics enthusiasts and experts. Robots battle it out one-on-one
for the title of overall Robot-One champion. In each bout a winner is
declared if a robot is unable to stand within ten seconds of falling over,
or if one freezes up or falls from the fighting platform.
The competition also includes a frenetic multi-robot brawl known simply
as "The Rumble". Eight robots scrap it out with the last one standing
declared the winner.
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996286&lpos=home3
(includes links to MPEG videos of robot combat)
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*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Technology Manager, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
