New adult size humanoid class at RoboCup 2010

 The RoboCup Japanese National Committee announced the details of the  RoboCup Japan Open 2010 which will be held on May 2-4 at Osaka Institute of Technology.

 The goal of RoboCup is to develop a team of humanoid robots that can compete with humans playing soccer by 2050. Now that we have only 40 more years to reach that goal, the committee has decided to add a new category to the Humanoid League. (RoboCup does have other leagues such as the 4-legged soccer league and rescue competitions.)

 Starting this year, the humanoid league will consist of  3 divisions depending on the size of the robot - KidSize (30-60 cm), TeenSize (100-130cm) and AdultSize (130-160cm). It used to be that there were only 2 size classes and all robots over 100cm were considered Teen.

  Although looking at the rules, it seems that the Adults will not be playing games but will compete with their skills for dribbling, kicking, throw-ins etc. KidSize will play games 3 vs. 3.  TeenSize will also play games with 2 robots on each side.

 
  From left, Hitoshi Matsubara, Chairman of RoboCup Japanese National Committee, Masataka Inoue, President of Osaka Institute of Technology (the university is setting up a new robotics department this spring), and Minoru Asada who is one of the key figures behind RoboCup. In front is an AdultSize robot by former champion Team Osaka .