Scottish Team Shoots for Robot Football Glory

The 2011 robot football world cup is being eagerly awaited at the University of Edinburgh where researchers are preparing one of the first teams that will compete in the event.

They are currently working on the smart systems that control the team of three humanoid robots that play on the pitch.

The trio of robots will enter the RoboCup and be pitted against standardized robots. A small humanoid called Nao made by French firm Aldebaran Robotics is used by all teams.

The 2010 RoboCup attracted entries from 40 nations and competition is likely to be even fiercer in 2011. Dr Subramanian Ramamoorthy who is an assistant professor in the School of Informatics at Edinburgh University is overseeing the creation of the robotic team.

Research students Aris Valtazanos, Efstathios Vafeias, Thomas McGuire, Jayant Bansal, Chris Towell and Majd Hawasly are coaching the team and getting them to play together.