Sony QRIO biped robot appears at RoboCup 2004
Sony’s QRIO Biped Entertainment Robot Displays Latest Skills and Abilities in Portugal
Lisbon/Berlin, 24 June 2004 – The revolutionary Sony QRIO (pronounced like 'curio') Robot is set to steal the show at RoboCup 2004 over the next few weeks with live demos and special exhibitions to the public.
Developed by Sony to open up new possibilities in robotics, the Sony QRIO robot is one of the world’s most sophisticated and intelligent humanoids. Being Sony’s Corporate Ambassador, QRIO is taking advantage of various opportunities around the world to communicate Sony’s vision of a world of dreams, entertainment and curiosity as well as introducing the technology that makes this vision a reality.
Featuring the latest technology in voice and face recognition, motion control and communication, Sony QRIO has also contributed to the creation of a new generation of Sony products and technologies. Since its appearance at last year’s RoboCup event, the two-legged Sony QRIO robot has earned high acclaim from researchers across the globe for its fluid movement and artificial intelligence. Now the stage is set in Portugal for the Sony QRIO robot to show off its latest skills and abilities during RoboCup 2004, the world’s most exciting and high profile event for robotics research and development.
"QRIO is a truly remarkable character and one of our most ambitious projects for the future" Says Nicolas Babin, Director Sony Entertainment Robot Europe. "As well as being inquisitive and highly intelligent, QRIO is also entertaining and highly sociable with a unique ability to communicate with human beings. Originally conceived as a 'Quest for Curiosity', the Sony QRIO robot is the embodiment of our dreams for a totally autonomous biped robot capable of integrating and living with people in a home environment."
José Quintã, Managing Director for Sony Portugal, adds, "RoboCup 2004 provides us with a tremendous opportunity to show the world what the Sony QRIO robot can do. Held in Lisbon at the same time as UEFA Euro 2004™, this international initiative is a showcase for the latest developments in robotics and artificial intelligence. Sony is actively involved in supporting the event as sponsor of the Four-Legged League and as an equipment supplier to the RoboCup Federation. We will also have a Sony booth at the tournament displaying our connectivity concept encompassing Hi-MD players, DVD camcorder and digital still cameras. With Sony AIBO participating in the tournament and QRIO giving live demos and exhibitions, RoboCup 2004 is an essential port of call for all those interested in seeing Sony robots in action."
RoboCup…There’s Simply No Event Like It!
UEFA Euro 2004™ is not the only soccer tournament taking place in Portugal over the next few weeks. RoboCup 2004 runs between 28th June and 3rd July at Pavilion 4 of the Lisbon Industry Fair at the Parque des Naçöes in Lisbon and promises to be equally entertaining. RoboCup is an international research and educational initiative that aims to promote robotics and artificial intelligence through the medium of soccer. Robots take part in tournaments designed to test autonomous behaviour, collaboration skills, planning, control and movement. In the Four-Legged League at RoboCup 2004, two teams of up to four Sony AIBO robots from no less than thirteen countries will be battling for glory, demonstrating various technical skills such as obstacle avoidance, passing and kicking.The ultimate goal of RoboCup is to create a team of fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players who can take on and beat the human World Cup winning team by 2050, playing by official FIFA rules.
Sony QRIO Takes Centre Stage!
One of the highlights of this year’s event will be the chance to see Sony QRIO in action. Making its first appearance in Portugal, Sony’s Corporate Ambassador will be giving exciting demos to the public throughout the tournament on the RoboCup ceremony stage. As well as displaying its dancing, walking and motion capability skills, Sony QRIO will show off the latest 3D navigation system developed by the Information Technologies Laboratories at Sony Corporation. Visitors can watch QRIO climb up and down stairs, walk around obstacles and on different surfaces, even navigate its way through narrow passages without losing awareness of its surroundings. The two-legged sensation will also demonstrate its soccer skills, including ball-kicking and passing, as well the fluidity of movement that enables it to walk and move its limbs in a smooth and natural way. RoboCup 2004 offers visitors a great opportunity to learn more about the intelligent QRIO and gain a glimpse of the future of robotics.Sony will also be holding AIBO public demonstrations of RoboCup football at the Vasco de Gama shopping centre in Lisbon between 25th June and 27th June. Two teams of three AIBO entertainment robots will play a ten minute football match with one team fully autonomous and the other controlled by joysticks. This teaser event for RoboCup 2004 gives the public an excellent opportunity to interact with the robots and learn more about their skills and abilities. MySony, the company’s customer personalisation programme, will be sponsoring a special competition at the shopping center and at RoboCup 2004 giving visitors a unique chance to win an AIBO Entertainment Robot.
More information about Sony QRIO, including photos, pictures, promotional movies & video clips can be found at www.Sony.net/SonyInfo/QRIO/
