The biggest robot soccer competition in 2002 will be kicked off thisJune 19, in Fukuoka/Busan, Japan/South Korea with over 100 entrantscompeting in different leagues for the title of top team. For the firsttime, the games will be concurrent with the FIFA world cup games.
Billed as the largest and most important autonomous robot competitionin the world, the tournament is now in its sixth year, having attractedteams from over 23 countries.
The contest was established with the ultimate aim of creating a squadof mechanical soccer players that can take on, and beat, the best humanteams, by 2050 (see http://www.robocup.org ).
Iranian Participation
Over the past few years, teams from Iran have achieved spectacularresults in the games, becoming the world champions in the midsize leaguein 1999,
European champions in2000
, third in the world in 2000, and attaining
This year, many university teams from Iran are expected to qualifyfor the competitions. Qualification is typically based on reaching averifiable and proven specified level of performance, for both software(simulation) and hardware (small/midsize) teams. The Science and ArtsFoundation has been supporting Iranian participation in these contestssince the Seattle 2001 competitions.
Costs this year are about $2,150 per person for the week of thegames (includes air travel, hotel stay, food, local transportation, and books). A total of$60,200 is being sought for seven 4-member teams.
Without your help many of these teams will not be able to attend.
- Iran in Robocup 2001 (report)
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