Soccer-Playing Robots

  • Posted 01.27.11
  • NOVA

They shuffle around, find the ball, plan their next move, and, of course, kick—all on their own. Designed by Manuela Veloso, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute and her team, these soccer-playing robots stand at the forefront of machines that can learn about the world and act appropriately. They can sense their surroundings and respond to changing conditions, like the arrival of another player in the vicinity. The long-term goal of Veloso's and other AI labs? To win the World Cup against humans by 2050. But they've got a few bugs to work out of their 'bots—like keeping them upright.

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Running Time: 03:40

Credits

Produced for NOVA by
Michael Bicks
Field Produced by
Sharon Kay
Edited by
William A. Anderson and Daniel Gaucher
Senior Produced by
Julia Cort
Narrated by
John McKenzie

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