- Title: CHINA: Robots stun Chinese fans with their agility at the robot olympics
- Date: 22nd June 2010
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) COMPETITION SUPERVISOR AND REFEREE PIAO SONGHAO SAYING: "Boxing is also really exciting. Although it's only on a small stage, but look, they are fighting back and forth. In there, you have both education and enjoyment. So, whilst watching students and audiences have automatically learnt something new in term of technology." TWO ROBOTS DANCING
- Embargoed: 7th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: Science / Technology,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVABS3JYY1U2TNVP6GYTHXFGB8MV
- Story Text: Walking, running and even dancing humanoid robots were pitted against each other at the International Huro Olympic Games (IHOG) on Monday (June 21) in northern China.
Nineteen international teams have travelled to Harbin, the provincial capital of northeastern China's Heilongjiang province to put their robots to the test in 17 disciplines, ranging from sprint and kung fu to boxing and dance.
Robots must be less than 60 centimetres long and be built in human form with a head, two arms and two legs.
The short-distance five-metre sprint provided the first winner of the afternoon, with a time of 20 seconds.
Creator Miyeong Baek, from South Korea's Inha Technology College, said her robot-obsession stretched back to a high-school hobby.
Woojin Lee, whose team Rabun Gap represents the United States, is fascinated by his metallic athletes.
"I'm really sure that all the robots in there have been through thousands and thousands of hours of work until they ended up like that and, probably, when you see a robot working after you've worked on it, that's when you feel most excited," the 17-year-old high-school student said, adding that he hoped to build a career in robotics.
South Korean-born Lee said he also enjoyed the chance to get together with his fellow, mostly male, robot enthusiasts.
Meeting like-minded people was also a lure for Harbin Engineering University computer science student Song Chao, who had choreographed the performance of his kung fu robot "Spirit".
Moving in time to the song "Guys Have to be Self-Reliant", his robot stole the show with its push-ups, flips and kicks.
"We programmed all this ourselves, we did Chinese martial arts because, at the moment, Chinese robot technology isn't very advanced and we are hoping to make something of our own, with our own style. We stuck the name "spirit" on its back to represent the Chinese martial spirit, meaning we should come up with it ourselves, rely on ourselves," Song Chao said.
Supervisor and referee Piao Songhao said learning and entertainment go hand in hand at the robot games.
"Boxing is also really exciting. Although it's only on a small stage, but look, they are fighting back and forth. In there, you have both education and enjoyment. So, whilst watching students and audiences have automatically learnt something new in term of technology," Piao said.
Participants and audiences alike enjoyed the sheer comedy of the competition as the metal boxing opponents solemnly tried to topple each other.
At the dance contest, machines dressed up as breakdancers popped, locked, and rolled to South Korean R'n'B and the cheering of the surrounding crowds.
One even apologized for its moves saying, "I'm really embarrassed. Thank you everyone."
The IHOG is jointly organized by the Robot Innovation Base, the Robot Technique and System National Key Laboratory of Harbin Institute of Technology, and the Robot Soccer Committee of China Artificial Intelligence Association.
The games will finish on Wednesday (June 23), when the winners of the disciplines will be announced.
StoryWalking, running and even dancing humanoid robots were pitted against each other at the International Huro Olympic Games (IHOG) on Monday (June 21) in northern China.
Nineteen international teams have travelled to Harbin, the provincial capital of northeastern China's Heilongjiang province to put their robots to the test in 17 disciplines, ranging from sprint and kung fu to boxing and dance.
Robots must be less than 60 centimetres long and be built in human form with a head, two arms and two legs.
The short-distance five-metre sprint provided the first winner of the afternoon, with a time of 20 seconds.
Creator Miyeong Baek, from South Korea's Inha Technology College, said her robot-obsession stretched back to a high-school hobby.
Woojin Lee, whose team Rabun Gap represents the United States, is fascinated by his metallic athletes.
"I'm really sure that all the robots in there have been through thousands and thousands of hours of work until they ended up like that and, probably, when you see a robot working after you've worked on it, that's when you feel most excited," the 17-year-old high-school student said, adding that he hoped to build a career in robotics.
South Korean-born Lee said he also enjoyed the chance to get together with his fellow, mostly male, robot enthusiasts.
Meeting like-minded people was also a lure for Harbin Engineering University computer science student Song Chao, who had choreographed the performance of his kung fu robot "Spirit".
Moving in time to the song "Guys Have to be Self-Reliant", his robot stole the show with its push-ups, flips and kicks.
"We programmed all this ourselves, we did Chinese martial arts because, at the moment, Chinese robot technology isn't very advanced and we are hoping to make something of our own, with our own style. We stuck the name "spirit" on its back to represent the Chinese martial spirit, meaning we should come up with it ourselves, rely on ourselves," Song Chao said.
Supervisor and referee Piao Songhao said learning and entertainment go hand in hand at the robot games.
"Boxing is also really exciting. Although it's only on a small stage, but look, they are fighting back and forth. In there, you have both education and enjoyment. So, whilst watching students and audiences have automatically learnt something new in term of technology," Piao said.
Participants and audiences alike enjoyed the sheer comedy of the competition as the metal boxing opponents solemnly tried to topple each other.
At the dance contest, machines dressed up as breakdancers popped, locked, and rolled to South Korean R'n'B and the cheering of the surrounding crowds.
One even apologized for its moves saying, "I'm really embarrassed. Thank you everyone."
The IHOG is jointly organized by the Robot Innovation Base, the Robot Technique and System National Key Laboratory of Harbin Institute of Technology, and the Robot Soccer Committee of China Artificial Intelligence Association.
The games will finish on Wednesday (June 23), when the winners of the disciplines will be announced. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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