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Humanoid Robot Combat in Japan

theluckyleper writes "New Scientist reports that the semi-annual Robo-One contest took place last week in Kawasaki, Japan. Humanoid robots (2 arms, 2 legs) battled it out one-on-one and in multi-robot brawls. The goal is to knock opponents over, or off of the combat platform. If a prone robot cannot stand back up in 10 seconds, it is eliminated. PC Watch (Japanese only) has more images and videos of the event."

11 of 277 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Standard dissapointment by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 5, Informative

    I don't think it's the AI that holds the balancing back, it's probably the servos and motors.
    As far as I remember they're not quick (responsive) enough (at least not for cheap).

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  2. One Must Fall by GlamdringLFO · · Score: 5, Informative

    This reminds me of one of my all time favorite fighting games, One Must Fall 2097. As the story goes, you'd have your brain connected to these huge (like, 90 meters) metal robots, which would duke it out in the arena.

    A punch connects! Wham! Sparks, nuts and bolts fly!

    Each different robot (there were about a dozen) had 'scrap' and 'destruction' moves, kinda-like fatalities. You could destroy your opponent in a shower of scrap metal.

    There's a new version out, apparently, called OMF: Battlegrounds (though I haven't played it). You can see the site here: www.omf.com

    I liked this game much more than Mortal combat or any of the other 2d side-by-side arena action fighters. I don't know if you can still buy it, but I'd still play it, if I could find disk 3 (of 5)...

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    Skal! AMS
    1. Re:One Must Fall by GlamdringLFO · · Score: 4, Informative

      Sorry to reply to my own post, but apparently, OMF:2097 has been released as Freeware, and is available for download here: http://www.omf.com/faq/misc.html

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      Skal! AMS
  3. Re:This explains it all by Mateito · · Score: 2, Informative

    Optimus Prime is red, Dude.

    Oh shit.. there goes my credibility...

  4. Re:This explains it all by xsupergr0verx · · Score: 2, Informative
    --

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  5. Try Hajime Sorayama by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    You may be interested in the art of Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama. While I'm not aware of any of this art that actually shows robots in the act of copulation, it's probably as close as you're going to get.

    Mods, can I get a +5 Informative for this?

  6. Re:This explains it all by stratjakt · · Score: 2, Informative

    Optimus is just the tractor part, not the trailer. He's the red semi, the trailer is just a mobile command center he would lug about with him.

    --
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  7. Robots? I think not! by odie_q · · Score: 3, Informative

    Although I guess you can call the[m] robots [...]

    Actually not. The general definition of the term "robot" is that it is autonomous. This needn't necessarily mean AI, a pre-programmed robotic arm is a robot (used in manufacturing plants). A human-controlled unit is not a robot, though.

    The term is however often used popularly as "mechanical man", but that is not what it "really" means. (Of course, as long as both participants in a conversation agree, any definition is correct)

    --
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  8. Re:obligatory simpsons reference by UserGoogol · · Score: 2, Informative

    Just so you know, the original seizure Anime was not giant robots, but actually Pokemon. Only about 300 people actually got seizures, but Japanese culture can be just as panicky as American culture, so it became a decently sized news story. (Also, of course, Pokemon was fairly popular in Japan too.)

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    "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
  9. Or HR Giger by Oxygen99 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Personally, I find HR Giger has an... ummm... interesting take on the idea of mechanistic sexuality. Did I say interesting? I meant disturbing...

    Mind you he did design the Alien so I shouldn't be surprised.

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  10. Re:Infinitely More Interesting Than Wedges by kai.chan · · Score: 2, Informative

    I have considered a battle between a wedge and a bipedal robot when I posted, and what you said is true . . . for now. At the same weight class, a bipedal robot can crouch down and turn over the wedge, or crouch into a defensive mode until the wedge runs out of batteries then proceed to attack, these are just some strategies amoungst numerous other means of defense. Surely, if a huge wedge was driving towards a human, he can find numerous ways to defend himself. This concept is what makes bipedal robot battles more interesting. It contains more strategies than the monotonous wedge-battles that only consist of repetitive and continuous rammings.