The first RoboCup in August 1997 at Nagoya in Japan was watched by over 7,000 spectators, capturing the imagination of the world's media. While RoboCup is a topical and light-hearted event, its serious aim is to put into practice some of the most advanced research in robotic engineering. The long-term goal is to field a robot team that can challenge the human winners of the World Cup. The Laboratory for Communications Engineering at the University of Cambridge is at the forefront of this work and its own robots use pioneering technologies such as wireless communications, and powerful vision and location systems. Dr Antony Rowstron, who heads up the team, is hoping for a good result in Paris - despite only having started preparations nine months ago.
Humans make it look easy, but to give robots the same basic abilities is a major challenge.
However, one advantage we have over Glen Hoddle is that we can switch the robots off at night. Photographs of the robot players in their kit in Cambridge Blue, together with members of their support team from the Laboratory for Communications Engineering, are available for press use. Notes for Editors 1. The Laboratory for Communications Engineering is a new laboratory in the Engineering Department at the University of Cambridge, led by Professor Andy Hopper. The other members of the Lab's robot support team, are Dr Stuart Wray, Dr Jian Wang, Steve Lloyd, Tim Edmonds, Dr Steve Hodges, Dave Crosby and Ben Bradshaw.