- Title: JAPAN: Two-legged robots compete in Tokyo for the title of strongest in the world
- Date: 10th December 2007
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SUMII, 43-YEAR-OLD HOUSEWIFE SAYING: "It is lots of fun. As my husband and daughter are involved in this as well, I can share the joy with them and our daily topic is always on how to renovate our robots." COMPETITORS WATCHING MONITOR AT BACKSTAGE COMPETITOR COOLING DOWN HIS ROBOT WITH FAN (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) NAOKI MARU, 40-YEAR-OLD COMPANY EMPLO
- Embargoed: 25th December 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Science / Technology,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAEDMG9ISWKNSC6UY3MW1YW3LH8
- Story Text: Japanese robot fans took their own specially-designed robots to the ring so they could slug it out with other competitors.
Some 25 powerful contestants from around Japan gathered for the Robo-One ground championships on Saturday (December 1) at Tokyo's convention centre to decide who was the strongest two-legged robot in the world.
The spectacle bore a striking resemblance to a real boxing or mixed martial arts match as robots traded jabs, dodged punches and eventually knocked out opponents with a crushing blow. Hundreds of spectators huddled around the octagon to watch the heated battles.
Only robots which could walk with two legs were eligible to fight and they had to be designed and constructed from the scratch by amateurs.
The purpose of the battle was to knock out an opponent three times or push them off the octagonal ring. Two accidental slips are considered a knock-down.
Robots exchanged punches for three-minute rounds and when a winner didn't emerge at the end of the round, a one minute extension round ensued.
Robot technology in Japan continues to move ahead mainly thanks to deep-pocketed big firms like Toyota, Honda and Sony. But when it comes to a two-legged robot, most of its renovations are made by shallow-pocketed amateur robot fans.
"Making two-legged robots has been an unprofitable business until now, so this is not a field that a private company can invest in. That is why its future depends heavily on us, amateurs and we are tackling it with a big dream," said Terukazu Nishimura, chairman of the organising Robo-One committee.
Participants put in thousands of hours and dollars into conducting their own research and development, and some of them spent most of that money and time not only their strength but also their charm.
"It is lots of fun. As my husband and daughter are involved in this as well, I can share the joy with them and our daily topic is always on how to renovate our robots," said Sumii, 40-year-old former System engineer- turned-housewife whose fighting robot "Arichyon" clad in a christmas costume showed off its dance and singing ability before its battle.
"You can not win a battle if you can not renovate it at least once every half year. It is generally unthinkable in other robotic fields but that is what is happening here for past years. The speed of technical evolution is accelerating," said 40-year-old Naoki Maru.
The winner of the tournament was certified as the first world champion by the organisation and received the champion's belt. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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