[robocup-humanoid] Rule Changes: Field of View

[Oskar von Stryk]

Hi Karl,

On Fri, 24 Aug 2007, Muecke, Karl wrote:
<...>
 
> Solution 2: With overall long term goal of RoboCup being "creating a
> team of humanoid robots that can defeat the WorldCup champions," we
> should accept and embrace the idea that some aspects of a robot can be
> superior to humans.  If the only superiority we want to embrace is the
> lightening fast processing and artificial intelligence, I think we are
> missing the mark.  I believe this organization is supposed to advance
> many robotic technologies, which includes sensors, actuators, etc.
> Therefore, allowing omnivision or multiple cameras may be a good idea.
> Instead perhaps we should concentrate on making the robots "appear" more
> human and making the playing conditions closer to the actual playing
> conditions.

The soccer scenario is just a means a means to understand intelligence and 
to develop abilities of intelligence in machines. 

If you just want a robot tailored to playing soccer on 
a plane field you should use a robust and fast omniwheel drive
and not legs. Why should one use legs then?
And why should one use directed, active vision with human-like
field of view and not any other type of sensor?

As for the robot's body the selection as been made years ago,
as the league is the humanoid robot league.
And with respect to more human like vision, the decision
has been made in the corresponding team leader meeting
in Atlanta with almos unanimous vote.


> With that being said, my second solution can be summarized by saying:
> Allow the different camera sensors, but make the robot appearance rules
> more strict, and make the field more life-like--don't have the goals
> colored.  Let the goals be like a real soccer goal (white with white
> netting) and let the robots use localization and more advanced
> algorithms to keep track of where they are and where they are going.  If
> the goalies have a distinct color, their location could be used to
> determine what direction your team is supposed to attack--the lines just
> let you know where you are on the field.

Yes, making the actual playing conditions closer to real ones is a good 
point. E.g., in some years from now just standard indoor field goals
with net should be used.
But for today's state of technology it is yet to difficult and to 
dangerous for the robots.

Best regards,
Oskar von Stryk