RoboCup - Robot Soccer

The NUbots team does software development for robotic soccer and compete every year in the international RoboCup competition. They've created the code that ran on the two-legged NAO robots (2008-), and previously four-legged AIBO robots (2002-2007). In 2012 they completed a second software migration, from the NAOs to the DARwIn-OP platform.

RoboCup is an international research and education initiative. Its goal is to foster artificial intelligence and robotics research by providing a standard problem where a wide range of technologies can be examined and integrated. The ultimate stated goal of the RoboCup project is "By the year 2050, develop a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can win against the human world soccer champion team".

Our research objectives are twofold: first to apply intelligent techniques in the Kid-Size Humanoid league domain, and second to use that domain as a test bed to develop solutions for wider application in other research areas.

The NUbots achieved a third place at RoboCup 2002 in Fukuoka, Japan; at RoboCup 2003 in Padua, Italy; at RoboCup 2004 in Lisbon, Portugal; and a second place at RoboCup 2005 in Osaka.

After 2006 the focus of attention shifted to alternative robot platforms such as the robot bear and the NAO Humanoid robot which got selected as the new standard platform. In 2008 the NUManoid team became world champion in the Standard Platform League. In 2012 the NUbots changed from the standard platform league to the Kid-Size Humanoid League and are now competing with the new DARwIn-OP robots.

Students interested in joining the NUbots or who want to work on associated projects (Honours, Masters, PhD, final year, or undergraduate projects) are invited to contact us for further information.