At Massey University, New Zealand engineers are working on a robotic leg that can kick with great accuracy into goals. The accuracy of the robotic leg will be challenged by ‘All Black’ ace Andrew Mehrtens during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Massey engineering workshop technician Paul Thornton, Massey engineering student Maurice Tipene, Gustav Eiselen from Siemens, Massey workshop manager Eddie Rodgers and Associate Professor Johan Potgieter with the goal-kicking robotic leg.
Johan Potgiete, Mechatronics lecturer and Associate Professor said that the man-sized, muscular metallic leg might also upstage other players who have had less than consistent goal kicking results in World Cup matches to date.
He said that they knew ball design was not to blame when it came to goal kicking accuracy, so they reckon their robot will be able to show what consistent goal kicking really means. The robot is made like a man of 95 percentile optimal physical health.
The first robotic leg was designed and built at the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology in Albany. A second one made by Massey engineers is at the Manawatu campus, and a third was made by Canterbury University. All three will test their skills against Mehrtens at Auckland's Victoria Park on October 10.
The event organiser Chris Hamling said that they will start off as if a try has been scored directly between the posts and then the player and robot operator will go to the left and right of the post at certain intervals. Whoever converts the highest number will be the winner.