demonstrations

Beside the regular RoboCup leagues there are demonstrations. The demonstrations show new ideas and concepts for future robotics competitions and research fields.

Nanogram

Nanosoccer-the Lilliputian competition where computer-driven "nanobots" the size of dust mites challenge one another on fields no bigger than a grain of rice-will be a demonstrationsport at RoboCup 2009.

Viewed under a microscope, the soccer nanobots (200-300 µm in length) are operated by remote control and move in response to changing magnetic fields or electrical signals transmitted across the microchip arena. "Nanoscale" refers to their mass. The bots are a few tens of micrometers to a few hundred micrometers long, but their masses range from only a few nanograms to a few hundred nanograms. They are manufactured from materials such as aluminum, nickel, gold, silicon and chromium

To win the Nanogram Demonstration, a nanobot must be fast, agile and capable of manipulating objects. These abilities are tested in three events: the Two-Millimeter Dash in which each nanobot seeks the best time for a goal-to-goal sprint across the playing field; the Slalom Drill where the path between goals is blocked by "defenders" (polymer posts); and the Shootout, a drill that requires robots to "dribble" as many "nanoballs" (silicon dioxide disks about the diameter of a human hair, 100 µm) as possible into the goal within a 3-minute period.

Festo Hockey Challenge Cup

A new challenge to demonstrate artificial intelligence methods using a prepared mobile robot platform of industrial quality with open interfaces for programming and the integration of sensor technology.

The goal of the game is to play hockey using indoor ice-hockey pucks. Each robot has the same fixed device to hold, to pass and to hit a puck. The robot platform is ready to use and can be only changed in terms of integration of sensor technology.

 Features:

• The robot must be enabled to catch a puck, "dribbling" with a puck, pass a puck to a team member and to hit a puck to score a goal. This requires an outstanding flexibility in movement behavior and fast recognition of position localization.
• Scoring a goal is almost not possible just by fortune. A strong team work between the robots is necessary.
• The ready to use mobile robot platform allows participants to focus on developing new methods in artificial intelligence and to look for the integration of powerful sensor technology. 
• The common platform provides fair and attractive conditions to benchmark own research results with students all over the world.

Mixed Reality Robotics

The Mixed Reality demonstrate bridges between simulation and real robot leagues of the RoboCup. It is based on 2cm tall robots that operate on a horizontally mounted display. Whilst the robots are real, the ball and the environment are virtual. Robots are remote controlled by individual software agents via Infrared.
This standard platform is an ideal system for RoboCup teams in transition between junior and senior status. Programming is easy and hardware effort is low, whilst the system offers all challenges teams have to face in the matured leagues.
The competition is divided into two challenges, a soccer tournament and a technical challenge.
The soccer tournament for the RoboCup 2009 Mixed Reality demonstration is based on 5 vs. 5 Bots games. For 2010, after a few minor improvements to the system, games of 11 vs. 11 Bots are envisioned.
The technical challenge is an open domain, i.e. any work with the system can be presented. Work will be rated by the participating teams according to importance for the Mixed Reality, scientific and engineering excellence and originality.

Mixed Reality is also established at national events like German Open, Iran Open and Japan Open.

For the RoboCup 2009 world championship, a Mixed Reality soccer pickup-competition will be offered to visitors and participants from other leagues. A generic agent, capable of controlling the robots, will be provided to pickup-league participants. Participants will then have time to implement their individual agents. The results will eventually be tested in 2 vs. 2 Bots games.