Humanoid Soccer Robots 2013. Call for Participation

International Summer School on Humanoid Soccer Robots 2013. July 22nd – July 26th, 2013. Universität Bonn, Institute for Computer Science, Autonomous Intelligent Systems.

The development of humanoid robots able to play soccer is a fundamental challenge problem for robotics and AI. Since the start of the humanoid league in 2002, there have been lots of improvements in humanoid soccer robots hardware and software.

This is partially due to the introduction of standard platforms (Nao, DARwIn-OP, NimbRo-OP) and competitions for complex simulated robots (3D Simulation). The objective of the school is to give students deep insights into the currently leading approaches to bipedal locomotion, dynamic motion generation, environment perception, tactics, and team play. Lectures by leading experts will provide the necessary theoretical background for hands-on exercises with humanoid soccer robots.

Program

The program is based on three pillars:

• Theory: Ranging from biomechanics, over compliant actuation, control of balance during walking and dynamic motion, robot state estimation, perception of the game situation, behavior control architectures, motion planning, and multi-agent systems.
• Case studies: Successful humanoid soccer systems like the Standard Platform League team B-Human and the Humanoid League team NimbRo TeenSize will be presented.
• Practical exercises: A soccer field and real humanoid soccer robots (NimbRo-OP, Darwin-OP, Nao) will be provided for hands-on experience. Participants are encouraged to also bring their own robots.

Speakers

• Armin Hornung, University of Freiburg
• Moritz Maus, TU Darmstadt
• Christian Ott, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen
• Daniel Polani, University of Hertfordshire
• Thomas Röfer, DFKI/University of Bremen
• Nikos G. Tsagarakis, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova
• Pierre-Brice Wieber, INRIA Rhône-Alpes

Organizers

• Jacky Baltes, University of Manitoba
• Sven Behnke, University of Bonn

Registration

The number of participants is limited. Please register by July 8th here:

Humanoid_Soccer_School_2013.pdf

International Summer School on Humanoid Soccer Robots 2013

Humanoid Robot. Roboy

The Artificial Lab of the University of Zuerich with its Director Prof. Dr. Rolf Pfeifer and over 10 different institutes and companies worldwide develop one of the most modern tendon driven robot of the world, Roboy. The project is being led by Konzeptagentur GmbH.

A unique project team, composed of scholars and industry representatives, has been working on ROBOY since June, 2012. The team combines the latest discoveries from university research with the invaluable expertise of the industry sector to come up with the most state-of-the-art robotics technology.

ROBOYwas conceived in 2011 via project coordination between internationally leading research institutions and industry partners who are at the forefront of development in mechanics and electronics. One of their first breakthroughs was the anthropomorphic tendon-driven arm (a.k.a. ANTHROB).

ROBOY will be developed in record time – only 9 months! The renowned Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Zurich will host ROBOTS ON TOUR, a robotics fair, in Zurich on March 8, 2013 for its 25 year anniversary. During this fair, the joint team of academia and industry will meet their ambitious goal and present ROBOY.

Development of ROBOY (mechanic and software) will be conducted via Open Source. This means that all expertise, ideas and inventions will not belong to one specific entity, and everyone will have the chance to advance ROBOY’s technology. ROBOY will be the ideal research platform for pioneering research into robotics, and will be advanced further through the AI Lab at Zurich University and other leading research institutions beginning soon after ROBOTS ON TOUR.

Transformer Robots. Kuratas

KURATAS robot, of Suidobashi Heavy Industry , is the first giant boarding-robot, which is about four meters height. Robot pilot, an occupation most man would want to be, comes true at last.

THE MOST ADVANCED CONTROL SYSTEM
KURATAS has the AE “V-Sido”, the control system of the computer technology is watched by all world with interest. Not only operating by boarding the pilot’s seat, but also enabling you to control and interact KURATAS with Kinect*. Moreover, without taking a professional training such as a combat plane, people can operate it easily. Furthermore, you can control KURATAS via the mobile 3G Internet access.

CUSTOM MADE
We could customize your KURATAS as what you hope; holding a squirt gun as a fire fighter, painting a body camouflage as a ranger in jungle, giving a mop and a cleaner as a home cleaning robot, so it is really up to you.

EASY TO BUY
Wherever you are, you can buy KURATAS on the online site, which will be opened when KURATAS Project completed.

SPEC
Height : about 4,000 mm / Width: about 3,000 mm / Length : about 4,000 mm / Weight : about 4,500 kg
Control system : AE V-sido

Humanoid Robot. Kaspar

This is KASPAR, Kinesics and Synchronisation in Personal Assistant Robotics, developed at the University of Hertfordshire.

KASPAR is minimally-expressive, therapeutic robot – the result of years of extensive research set in motion by Dr Kerstin Dautenhahn, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and the Adaptive Systems Group at the University’s School of Computer Science.

The evolution of the KASPAR project, from its origins as a low-cost interactive robot meant to only last a few months, to its game-changing trial with autistic children, has captured the imagination of a wide and expansive audience.

Using the robot with autistic children has produced some encouraging results so far, demonstrating how some of the children learn about social communication skills in repeated, long-term interactions with KASPAR.

This special little robot has the ability to complement existing methods of care for children with autism to be used by teachers, therapists and parents. We hope to make a positive contribution to the lives of autistic children and their families by providing a robot that is engaging, educational and fun. Join us as we work to unleash KASPAR’s potential.

KASPAR is causing quite a stir in the national and, indeed, international public sphere.

What this robot could mean for children all over the world has captured the imaginations of all who have come into contact with KASPAR.

We hope to continue this level of acknowledgement and create awareness for the work we are doing as we move forward with the project.

Service Robots. ANT helps in airport of Geneva

The airport of Geneva is testing a new ANT® driven robot, of Bluebotics, guiding passengers to the restroom, ATM, baggage claim and other services. The spokesman of the airport stated: “If this test is successful, the robot should soon be joined by some brothers”. This collaboration with the airport of Geneva is a perfect application of the ANT® liten avigation product, which easily enables new service robotics applications.

The airport of Geneva is testing a new ANT® driven robot guiding passengers to the restroom, ATM, baggage claim and other services. The spokesman of the airport stated: “If this test is successful, the robot should soon be joined by some brothers”.
This collaboration with the airport of Geneva is a perfect application of the ANT® litenavigation product, which easily enables new service robotics applications.

The Airport of Geneva and Bluebotics have developed an innovative robot. The robot moves around in the airport and is
looking for contacts. It helps travellers looking for a trolley, a money exchange or toilets. The robot accompanies the
travellers to the location and at the same time it helps to carry forward the reflections on the concept of the service.
Gilles Brentini from the Division Informatique of the Airport of Geneva comments: “The robot let our passengers know that
they have arrived in Switzerland, a country at the leading edge of technology.”

The robot is innovative in two ways. The first innovation is the navigation system. Similar system exist however they need
cables on the floor or other references. The Bluebotics navigation system doesn’t need anything. The second innovation is
the application. It’s the first robot which helps passengers in an airport to access different services.

The travellers seem to have already adopted the robot without any problems and are using it without hesitation.

Bluebotics is a spin-off company of the Autonomous Systems Lab, EPFL. Founded in 2001 with the mission of marketing
innovative and promising mobile robotics technologies, the company is now active in two segments: Automation and service
robotics.

Technology

The Autonomous Navigation Technology ANT® allows your vehicle, robot or mobile platform to localize and navigate completely autonomously.

ANT® is environment based

ANT® uses features naturally present in its surroundings as reference for localization. No additional infrastructure (such as magnet, inductive line or reflectors) is therefore required.

Autonomous handling of obstacles

ANT® autonomously handles obstacles by either moving around them, or adapting the speed to avoid emergency situations.

Based on industry-proven sensors

To reach a precision of +/- 1 cm, ANT® combines data from encoders and laser scanners with a proven record in industrial applications. In fact, ANT® uses the information from the safety laser scanners already mounted on your vehicle.

Bluebotics Products 

ANT navigation. Localization, control & missioning for your vehicle.

ANT localization. Localization for your vehicle

ANT lite. Localization & control for your vehicle

Space Robotics. RIMRES

RIMRES. Reconfigurable Integrated Multi Robot Exploration System, of Robotics Innovation Center (RIC). The aim of the project is the development of core technologies for modular, reconfigurable robotic systems to support the efficient and robust execution of complex tasks in uncooperative and difficult-to-access areas. Besides new methods for autonomy, navigation, and locomotion, the focus is on a highly modular system concept consisting of modules for different functions, i.e., locomotion, energy supply, data recording, autonomy, and navigation which are intended to be compatible with each other and will be linked via a uniform mechatronical interface.

RIMRES  is a joint project of the DFKI Robotics Innovation Center and the ZARM (Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity).

Within this project, a complex demonstration scenario is set up demonstrating a lunar pole exploration. The focus lies on an improved surface mobility which is achieved by employing single robot systems with innovative morphologies and by combining heterogeneous robots into one overall system.

The hybrid wheeled-leg rover SHERPA developed in the RIMRES project offers not only a relatively energy-efficient locomotion in moderately unstructured terrain, but, as a result of the active suspension system, the rover provides increased mobility so as to free itself if getting stuck and to react flexibly to unforeseen circumstances.

The second mobile system in RIMRES is the six-legged walking Scout robot CREX for the exploration of the interior of lunar craters. It is transported by Sherpa to the crater rim, deployed, and starts climbing into the permanently shaded regions of the crater (see video at bottom of page). CREX is based on previous experiences gained in the SpaceClimber project.

Research activities also focus on the modularity of exploration systems: a uniform electromechanical interface serves to combine mobile systems either with each other, or with so-called payload items which, in turn, can also be combined among themselves. The payload items are used to assemble scientific and technological payloads or to enhance the capabilities of the mobile systems. This way, a task-specific reconfiguration of the systems beomes possible.

Project Flyer English 
Project Flyer German

Fire-Fighting Robot. FSR

Developed by Hoya Robot Company and financed by the South Korean government, Firefighter Support Robot is intended to be used by firefighters as their personal spy.